June Producer Connection by Texas Pork Producers Association

Producer Connection The official newsletter of the Texas Pork Producers Association

2014 Texas Pork Industry Conference & Youth Symposium

PEDv updates Biosecurity at validation

The Y.O. Ranch Hote & Conference Centerl Kerrville, Texas July 11-12, 2014

Interact.Inform.Improve.

Featured Members Levi Canales Alexandra Ely

tes a d p U R B CT on i t c e S d o o F

News

Pork Board NPPC ts Statewide Even

June / July 2014

A few words from one of your Directors... “Your Association”

Greetings from the South Pla than 1”) in 2014! Therefor ins of Texas. As of this writing, we have received less than an inch of rain e we have been having ho (yes that is less t, dry windy days, and mo in many years. But tomorr re sandstorms than we ha ow is a new day and we ve experienced know things will eventua to that rain! lly change; and yes, we are one day closer With the new day comes change, just as how your Texas Pork Producers As We have been very fortun sociation (TPPA) change ate and blessed with the s an outstanding leadership of retirement and the emplo Ken Horton for over 30 ye d progresses. yment of Brandon Gunn ars, but with his as the Executive Vice Pr Under Brandon’s leadersh esident, things and leade ip along with Cassidy Sm rship style change. ith (Communications), the age (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). These means of co y are bringing TPPA into mmunication leave us so the new social we must accept the chall called “Seniors” a little enge for us to change an out in the cold, but d enter into the new socia l means of communicatio This is where our memb ns. ership can become more involved in their Associa and role of TPPA in the tio n and make a difference “Pork Industry” in Texa s, the U.S. and even in the Board of Directors (B the world. Our Associatio in the direction OD), its officers and vario n is composed of us involved in YOUR assoc iation by becoming a comm committees. I encourage and challenge each of you to become ittee member or in some The committees are comp other way contributing to osed of members of TP the Association. PA, but if the current lea aware of your interest an dership, the BOD and sta d de ff are not made of leadership. I personally sire to serve on a committee or the BOD, you can not be appointed or electe was fortunate for selection d to these levels privilege of serving as Pr to serve on a committee, wh esident of TPPA. If not for ich evolved to the BOD, the committee participatio Association and learning and the n, I would have been denie all the various activities an d of serving the d other things that the As in regulations, promotiona sociation is involved with; l ev such as their role roles in both Youth and Ad ents that market and stimulate even more interest in your product “PORK” ult education. as well as their Therefore, I challenge each of you in some fas hion to become more inv Association! The involv olved in your em membership or the BOD) ent can be in the role of a leadership position , attendance of the Pork (committee Industry Conference (Ju or participation in the CT ly in Kerrville), BR program or other TP PA and easy way we all can be involved is by spreadin sponsored events. Another important g the work of the TPPA promotion of our product and the positive “PORK” thru Facebook, Twitter or some other me media. ans in the social Let’s all work together to promote the Pork Industry and the Texas Pork Produc ers Association.

Ian Schaefer Garden City

Meet the Interns

University: Junior at Texas Tech University as an Animal Science major. I plan on getting my Masters of Business Administration at Texas Tech. Proudest accomplishment: Member of the Texas Tech Livestock Judging Team that won Champion Honors at Houston. Favorite Quote: “Maybe nothing we do in this world matters at all… But, what if everything does?” - Baron Batch Why TPPA?: I wanted to intern for the TPPA because I’ve seen firsthand the quality type of people that work for the association. I also wanted the experience in marketing and public relations that this internship will provide.

Sierra Stephens Amarillo

University: Junior agricultural communications and agricultural education double major at West Texas A&M University. I plan on pursuing a Masters in Education at Texas Tech University Proudest Accomplishment: 4.0 GPA this semester while working a three week internship in Denver, attending every major Texas stockshow, and taking eighteen hours of school. Favorite Quote: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Why TPPA?: I’ve been involved in this industry my whole life. The older I’ve gotten the more it has helped shape who I am. This internship serves as a great opportunity to learn and start paying forward everything that the industry has done for me.

June/ July 2014

Happy 125th Anniversary TPPA

UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 2nd ~ TPPA/CTBR Foundation Gilt Scholarship/Grant App. Due 4th - 7th ~ World Pork Expo, Des Moines, IA

Celebrating the past while embracing the future!

9th - 14th ~ Texas 4-H Round-up, College Station 15th - 20th ~ Texas Pork Leadership Camp 25th - 28th ~ Team Purebred National Junior Show, Springfield, IL

TPPA Mission Statement “The mission of the Texas Pork Producers Association is to help our members produce and market pork for a profit.”

30th - July 5th ~ NSR Summer Type Conference, Louisville, KY

Producer Connection is the official publication of the Texas Pork Producers Association and is published by the Texas Pork Producers Association. All inquiries should be directed to the TPPA office.

1 ~ CTBR Breeder Logs Available Major Show Certificates Available

Advertising Information To place an ad or for advertising rates and guidelines, please contact Texas Pork Producers Association at (512) 453-0615 or communications@texaspork.org

11th - 12th ~ TPPA Industry Conference & Youth Symposium, Kerrville * Detailed schedule available in this issue and website

JULY st

3rd - 7th ~ TJLA Belt Buckle Bonanza, Waco

14th - 18th ~ Texas State FFA Convention, Fort Worth

AUGUST Texas Pork Producers Association P.O. Box 10168 Austin, Texas 78766 800-501-7675 - Phone 512-453-0615 - Local Phone 512-451-5536 - Fax tppa@texaspork.org www.texaspork.org Texas Pork Producers Association 8500 Shoal Creek Blvd. Bldg. 4, Suite 120 Austin, Texas 78757

29 - 31 ~ NJSA Southwest Regional th

Follow the TPPA on: facebook & twitter

Programs are made available to pork producers without regard to race, color, sex, religion or national origin. TPPA is an equal opportunity employer.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF

President - Kenneth Kensing, Fredericksburg

Lorenzo Devora, Pipe Creek Rory Duelm, New Braunfels Mike Gruber, Dalhart Kurt Kelso, Seguin David Kempen, San Angelo Barret Klein, Boerne Cody McCleery, Weatherford Robert Peffley, Miami Chuck Real, Marion Ewrin Schwartz, Jr., San Angelo Stanley Young, Lubbock

President Elect - Kyle Stephens, Amarillo Vice President - Jimmy Hayes, Port Lavaca Immediate Past President - Melton Harms, Springtown Executive Member - Corby Barrett, Perryton Executive Member - Denny Belew, Tahoka Executive Member - Jay Winter, Lubbock

Executive Vice President Brandon R. Gunn bgunn@texaspork.org Director of Communications Cassidy Smith csmith@texaspork.org Administrative Assistant Jo Ann Mills tppa@texaspork.org

“Servin ng Texas Aniimal Agricultture Since 18893”

Texas Ani T imal Health Comm mission (TTAHC) Texas Por T rk Produccers Asso ociation (TTPPA)

Biosec B curityy Measures for Sw wine V Validaation What you W u shouldd know A Anytime there is congre egation of sw wine, especcially swine originating from differrent premises, there iss an increassed risk for the spread of diseases such as P Porcine Epid demic Diarrhea (PEDv),, Porcine e and Respiratory Syndrome (PRR RS), and inffluenza. Esttablishing aand followin ng sound Reproductive practices is tthe cornerstone for red ducing the risk of spreading thesee diseases. With fall biosecurity p owing are ssome consid derations fo or swine ow wners and vaalidation evvents rapidlyy approachiing, the follo alidation evvent organizzers to consiider that will help minim mize disease exposure.. va

Prior to the vvalidation evvent, it is reccommended d that owneers:    

Clean n and disinfect trailer(s) tthoroughly p prior to haulling swine Only haul swine ffrom the sam me premisess e hauled togeether, mainttain solid separation bettween If swine from diffferent premiises must be nimize fecal contaminatiion the pigs from diffferent premiises and min ontact validaation event Monitor the health of swine ‐‐ if any pig iss sick or has diarrhea, co nizers so that appropriatte alternative plans, suchh as a differeent tagging date or location, may organ be maade

during the vvalidation evvent, event o organizers sshould consiider the follo owing: Prior to and d     

Encou urage exhibitors to repo ort sick pigs aand have an alternate plan for validating those animals, such as an alternaate date or llocation direction traffic flow by designating a single enttrance and exit point Traffic flow – utilize a single d on – maintain n appropriatte space bettween truckss and trailerss to reduce tthe Vehiccle separatio opportunity for in ncidental contact betwe een swine Desiggnate a separate line for any swine that appear tto be unhealthy at time of arrival; th hese pigs should be processed at a different locatio on or after aall healthy sw wine have beeen processed Limit foot traffic – – encourage e owners to sstay with theeir truck or ttrailer and liimit foot traffic of all individuals that are not essen ntial validatio on personneel

  

Only have owners enter traile ers; have ow wners move pigs to the b back of traileer or gatte for validation personn nel to apply tag or allow w owners to aapply tags under direct supe ervision of vaalidation personnel Provid de and enco ourage the use of boot b bath stationss by all particcipants Equip pment disinfection – o Taaggers and p pliers should d be disinfectted betweenn each use w time for ccleaning o Have multiple e taggers and d pliers available to allow nd disinfection an o Efffective sanittizing solutio ons include SSynergize™, Tek‐Trol®, V Virkon® S, an nd bleach so olutions mixe ed and used according t o label direcction

V Validation pe ersonnel sho ould:    

Wear rubber bootts or other footwear thaat can be cleeaned and diisinfected orr dispossable boot covers that are changed between grooups of pigss from differeent premisees Clean and disinfecct hands or w wear disposaable gloves tthat are changed betweeen groups o of pigs from d different pre emises Mainttain vigilance e of biosecurity – if valid dation persoonnel observve sick swinee, take extra precautions to cle ean and disin nfect person nnel and equuipment prio or to processsing the nextt pig Establlish a designated area aw way from alll swine for ddisposable iteems, such ass boot coverrs and glovess, to be colle ected for rem moved

A After the valiidation even nt, it is recom mmended th hat owners:: 

Isolate e validated p pigs from other swine fo or at least 211 days, care for validated pigs lastt wners  Monittor swine daily for signs of sickness; if symptom s appear ow should d consult the eir private veterinary practitioner  Clean and disinfecct equipmen nt, clothing, shoes and trrailers dustry to thee best of ourr ability. Why is this important? Protect ourr local pork producers aand pork ind he risk, but reduces thee risk. Be awarre of the facttors and creeate a plan. This cannot eliminate th Fo or additional informatio on visit the N National Porkk Board web bsite at www w.pork.org This informa ation was prrovided to yo ou courtesy o of the Texass Animal Heaalth Commisssion (TAHC) and the Texas Pork Produ ucers Associaation (TPPA)).

www.tah hc.texas.gov 512‐719‐0700

ww ww.texasporrk.org 8800‐501‐76775

May 2014 4

The Department of Animal Science is a family within itself. The faculty and staff are passionate about the agricultural industry and truly care about the success of their students both in and out of the classroom. -Victoria Pilger, Class of 2015

Animal Science

Neill Farms

Getâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;em while theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re HOT!

Department of Animal Science | Texas A&M University 109 Kleberg | 2471 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-2471 (979) 845-7616 | anscience@ag.tamu.edu Visit our website at animalscience.tamu.edu

2014 San Antonio: 5 pigs pulled out of the 6 showing. We only bred 3 Duroc Sows.

2014-2015 Show Season Breeding: 12 Duroc Sows 10 Exoctic Sows All ages available!!

Rickey Neill 830-534-2440 rneill_2000@yahoo.com

302 CR 425 Stockdale, TX 78160

Susan Neill 830-534-9226

TANKSLEY INDUCTED INTO ANIMAL SCIENCE HALL OF FAME Dr. T.D. Tanksley Jr. was posthumously inducted into the Animal Science Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 during the Department of Animal Science External Awards Program. The award was presented by Mr. Chuck Real, Owner and Operator of Real Hog Farms and accepted on behalf of Dr. Tanksley by his wife, Margaret, and their three children, Spence, Janice and Pat. The son of T.D. and Olivia Tanksley, “Tank,” as he was affectionately known, grew up on the family livestock farm in Burnet County. At age 16 he became an Aggie and was drafted to serve his country in World War II after only completing two semesters of school. After his return, Tank married his high school sweetheart, Margaret From left: Spencer Tanksley, Margaret Tanksley, McAndrew, in August of 1945. Chuck Real, Pat Boleman, and Janice Christian After graduating as the valedictorian of his class in 1947, he spent 10 years in Llano County serving producers and students first as a Vocational Agricultural Teacher and then as a County Agricultural Agent. His hard work and dedication in the county earned him recognition as one of five outstanding young Texans in 1956. Among the other four honorees that year was George H.W. Bush. In December 1956, Tank joined the staff of Texas A&M College, now Texas A&M University, in the Animal Science Department as the Extension Swine Specialist while working towards his doctorate degree, which he received in 1968. He went on to hold a rare three-way appointment in the College of Agriculture, the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. He was named Professor Emeritus of Animal Science, when he retired in 1985. Dr. Tanksley’s early research resulted in swine-feeding guidelines that were followed worldwide. In other research, he helped build bone strength in boars and determine optimum feed formulas for digestibility. He also pioneered the development of the meat-type hog, which has less fat and more muscle. Mr. Real said Tank “was the ultimate educator. He had the unique ability to talk with producers at the end of the road that never left the farm helping them solve their problems, but could also talk to researchers on the highest level.” Real also went on to say that Tank’s integrity and work ethic were unmatched. Dr. Bib Easter, University of Illinois, is a former student of Dr. Tanksley. Easter credits Tank with helping him to determine and establish an educational path that ultimately led him to his current appointment. “Perhaps more important than anything was the extent to which I have been influenced by Tank’s sense of the responsibility that we in the academy have to understand the needs of our state and to implement research and educational efforts that bring pragmatic solutions to real problems,” said Easter. Regardless of the many teaching, research, and extension awards Tank received, his first love was always livestock shows. Tank was the best-known swine show judge in Texas history, conducting programs throughout the state. In 1997, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo recognized him for 50 years of continuous support as an exhibitor, 4-H and FFA youth advisor and superintendent of the Market Swine and the 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest. For 30 years the Tanksley’s raised Brahman steers that often topped the consigned cattle sale at the S&S Show Steer and Cattle sale in Taylor. Many of the steers went on to win major show champions. Tank will long be remembered and recognized by many for developing top notch, highly competitive Brahman cross show steers. In 2011, Dr. Tanksley passed away at his home in Bertram. He left his love for animal science and youth advocacy in the capable hands of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The Animal Science Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding individuals who, through their exceptional work and achievements, have advanced the field of animal science and made a profound difference to the productivity and sustainability of animal agriculture. Also, they have a record of impressive accomplishments which indicate significant achievements and contributions made to the field of animal science at the state, national and/ or international level. The awards committee, made up of Animal Science faculty and advisory committee members, felt that Dr. Tanksley embodied the true spirit this award is based on. It was with much honor and gratitude that Dr. T.D. Tanksley Jr. was inducted into the Department of Animal Science Hall of Fame. Written by: Maggie Tucker

News from the

National Pork Producers Council NPPC PRESIDENT TESTIFIES AT HOUSE AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING

NPPC President Dr. Howard Hill, a pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa, Wednesday testified on the state of the U.S. pork industry before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development and Credit. Dr. Hill gave an account of the devastating effects of the porcine endemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) on the U.S. swine herd as well as the effects of the mandatory U.S. country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) law on pork producers. Questioned by multiple subcommittee members about PEDv, Dr. Hill noted the virus, which has no vaccine, has killed about 7 million pigs in 30 states since last April, losses that likely will reduce slaughter this summer by more than 10 percent. NPPC called on USDA to conduct a thorough investigation on the pathway PEDv and another virus used to gain entry into the U.S. swine herd, to conduct more research on the viral propagation of the diseases and to commit more resources to determining the pathogenesis of and ways to control the viruses. Dr. Hill also pointed out that the MCOOL law, which requires meat to be labeled with the country where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered, caused the Canadian pork industry to reduce production as U.S. hog farmers sought to avoid the costs and complications associated with the law. The statute prompted Canada and Mexico to bring trade cases before the World Trade Organization, which is expected to rule on them this summer. Should the WTO decide that the MCOOL law doesn’t meet U.S. international trade obligations, Canada and Mexico would be allowed to place retaliatory tariffs on many U.S. products, including pork. NPPC urges Congress to consider a legislative fix to the mandatory labeling law.

‘WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES’ DEBATE HEATS UP IN WASHINGTON

Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule on what constitutes a “water of the United States,” debate has grown heated on Capitol Hill. Pork producers from across the country voiced to their members

of Congress during NPPC’s legislative fly-in concerns with the proposed rule, which could greatly expand EPA’s jurisdiction over various waterways. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week testified about the rule before Congress, and Wednesday NPPC Chief Environmental Counsel Michael Formica and NPPC board members attended a stakeholder briefing with EPA officials to discuss potential concerns the proposal raises. NPPC will keep members updated on this important issue.

Cont. ‘LAWMAKERS ASK EPA TO WITHDRAW PROPOSED WATER RULE’

Reps. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., and 229 of their House colleagues are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw a proposed rule expanding jurisdiction over “waters of the United States.” In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Secretary of the Army John McHugh, the 231 lawmakers expressed “serious concerns” with the proposed rule and asked the agencies withdraw it to address the “legal, economic, and scientific deficiencies of the proposal.” NPPC, 23 state pork associations and a number of other agricultural groups sent a letter to House lawmakers who haven’t signed the Collins-Schrader letter, urging them to do so and pointing out that the proposed rule “goes well beyond the authority granted the Agencies by Congress.” The effect of the rule on normal farming practices would be “significant and precedent setting,” said the groups. Ditches adjacent to farm land, for example, would be covered under the rule. NPPC is reviewing the rule to determine its effects on agriculture and will be submitting comments on it.

CONNECTICUT SUPPORTS FAMILY PIG FARMERS

The Connecticut General Assembly backed local family pig farmers, adjourning this week without considering legislation that would have banned the use of gestation stalls, a safe and humane form of housing pregnant sows. The vast majority of the

country’s independent hog farmers use gestation stalls to house pregnant sows because they allow for individualized care and eliminate aggression from other sows. The housing method is approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Farmers across Connecticut rallied for their right to farm, attending hearings and submitting comments on the stall ban measure. Animal-rights groups hired out-of-state volunteers to lobby the assembly. The defeat in Connecticut is just one in a series of state-level failures for animal-rights groups, which have pushed gestation stall bans in states with little agriculture production, spending exorbitant amounts of their donors’ contributions.

THE VOICE OF TEXAS PORK PRODUCERS HEARD IN WASHINGTON

TPPA EVP Brandon Gunn traveled to Washington, D.C. the first week of April for NPPC’s spring Legislative Action Conference. The biannual “fly-in” drew from around the country approximately 125 pork producers, who lobbied their members of Congress on issues of importance to the U.S. pork industry, including the Hours of Service Rule for livestock haulers, EPA personal data release, the federal Renewable Fuels Standard, Porcine Endemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv), USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans and trade issues, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). NPPC staff presented pork producers with updates on legislative issues. Speakers at the conference included Reps. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah; Darci Vetter, USDA deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, Farm & Foreign Agricultural Services; Ed Pagano, former White House deputy assistant to the president for legislative affairs and partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLC; and Richard Sellers, American Feed Industry Association

senior vice president of legislative & regulatory affairs. Asked about the importance of the conference, Gunn said, “Establishing contact and building relationships with our Texas delegation is essential. They need to know how the legislation affects our individual producers personally because they will ultimately make the decisions that affect us all in the industry.” Producers, Capitol Hill staff and lawmakers also attended NPPC’s Capitol Hill-famous and widely-attended “Rack of Pork” congressional reception. Approximately 900 people attended the event. There will be a fall conference as well, where TPPA members will travel to D.C. and participate.

Executive Vice President TPPA Brandon Gunn, Pork Producers from Oklahoma, Executive Director OPC Roy Lee Lindsey and Congressman Frank Lucas,Chairman of Agriculture Committee

MARKETING MEAT TO MILLENIALS

Speakers at the Animal Agriculture Alliance conference, according to Meatingplace, painted a tricky picture of marketing to millennials (those born after 1980) that includes everything from making them feel good about what they eat to letting them help create and market your products. Jeff Fromm, co-author of Marketing to Millennials: Reach the largest and most influential generation of consumers ever, explained that millennials need stories, entertaining videos, and fun facts they can share through social media. He also said not to overlook the power of your own millennial employees, because whether they are happy or unhappy at work, they’ll likely be tweeting about it. If your employee seems happy, it reflects well on your brand. Fromm also encouraged food makers to engage early adopters with new products through social media. He said millennials, “aren’t disloyal; they are

savvy. Useful is the new cool.” Storytelling about your brand must evolve to “story living” for millennials, which means you must create opportunities for them to tell their own story relative to your brand and share it online. Fromm said even business-tobusiness food companies “need a content excellence strategy,” which includes your company coming up high in a Google search when millennials in business are researching product sourcing.

have been exempted from having tariff elimination. “Allowing Japan to exempt products from going to a zero tariff and preserving the gate price on pork sets a horrible precedent,” Hill said. “Other TPP countries may demand similar treatment, which could jeopardize the entire agreement, and that precedent would make it much harder to obtain a good outcome for pork and other agricultural products in future trade deals.”

Pork Producers Council joined the International Dairy Foods Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the USA Rice Federation and the U.S. Wheat Association in calling on the Obama administration to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations without Japan unless that nation agrees to provide significant market access for the United States. For U.S. pork that means elimination of Japan’s gate price system and all tariffs. The TPP is a regional negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP. According to reports from the recent TPP trade ministerial meeting in Singapore, Japanese Minister of the Economy Akira Amari said Japan will not abolish tariffs in the agricultural sectors it considers “sacred” – dairy, sugar, rice, beef, pork, wheat and barley. “The U.S. pork industry is very disappointed that Japan continues to refuse to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade,” said NPPC President Dr. Howard Hill, a pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa, who pointed out that the U.S. meat sector strongly supported Japan’s entry into the TPP talks, as did most of American agriculture. “A country can’t shield its primary agricultural products from competition and still claim to be committed to a highstandard agreement that liberalizes essentially all goods.” Japan is demanding special treatment for its agricultural sector, including exempting pork and other “sensitive” products from tariff elimination. The United States never has agreed to let a trading partner exempt as many tariff lines as Japan is requesting – 586. In fact, in the 17 free trade agreements the United States has concluded since 2000, only 233 tariff lines combined

USDA Wednesday announced a $20 million national program to reduce damage caused by feral swine. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services will manage the program state-by-state to control populations, test animals for diseases and research methods to better control damage. A significant portion of the program will include surveillance and disease monitoring to protect the health of domestic swine herds. Feral swine have caused $1.5 billion in annual damage and carry diseases that can affect people, domestic animals, livestock and wildlife, as well as local water supplies. APHIS will test feral swine for diseases of concern for U.S. pork producers, such as classical swine fever (which does not exist in the U.S.), swine brucellosis, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRSS), swine influenza and pseudorabies. APHIS aims to have the program operating within six months.

AGRICULTURE GROUPS URGE TPP DEAL WITHOUT JAPAN

USDA ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION TO REDUCE FERAL SWINE As of May 28, 2014, the National DAMAGE

The National Pork Producers Council conducts public-policy outreach on behalf of its 43 affiliated state associations, enhancing opportunities for the success of U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders by establishing the U.S. pork industry as a consistent and responsible supplier of high-quality pork to the domestic and world markets.

The Strategic Investment Program, is the primary source of funds for the National Pork Producers Council. By enrolling in SIP, you are assured a seat at the table when decisions are made regarding the future of the U.S. pork industry. For more information or to join NPPC, visit WWW.NPPC.ORG

News from the

National Pork Board DASH Eating Plan Taps Lean Pork Checkoff Updates Youth young farmers more aware of their personal responsibility, and the tools Pork as Menu Item PQA Plus® Program New research from one of the best-studied eating plans says adding lean pork can help improve blood pressure. Adults following the welldocumented Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, eating plan can also include lean pork to help lower blood pressure. According to new research funded by the Pork Checkoff, people with high blood pressure can benefit from a DASH eating plan that uses nutrient-rich lean pork as the predominant source of protein. “This new Pork Checkoff-funded study further validates the important role of lean pork in a balanced diet,” said Karen Richter, president of the National Pork Board and a pork producer from Montgomery, Minn. “Lean, nutrient-rich pork has many beneficial qualities that make it easy to incorporate into any healthy diet.” Purdue University researchers found that when adults ate lean pork instead of chicken and fish as their main protein source, the blood pressure benefits were the same. Regardless of the protein source, study participants’ systolic blood pressure dropped about eight to nine points and their diastolic number decrease about four to five points after six weeks. Participants had their blood pressure consistently checked through a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring system. “The DASH diet has been recognized by government and health organizations as an eating pattern that can promote health and help decrease the risk of chronic diseases,” said study lead author Dr. Wayne Campbell, nutrition science professor at Purdue University. “While the traditional DASH diet includes chicken and fish, our research suggests that lean pork may also be a part of this healthy eating pattern.” The DASH diet emphasizes increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and typically, fish and chicken, along with reduced intakes of sodium and red meats. For the latest pork nutrition information, recipes and more, visit porkandhealth.org.

New online certification tool offers broader appeal to young learners. Consumers want to know how their food is produced. Through its Youth Pork Quality Assurance Plus® program (PQA), the National Pork Board will make training available to young producers so they can continue to earn the trust of consumers through transparency and training. Recent changes to Youth PQA Plus include an online training, testing, and certification option to accompany the current inperson process. Delivered to students in the form of an engaging, interactive online learning module, the new online option allows participants to learn, test, and become certified in Youth PQA Plus. For youth age 12 and under, there is a parent log-in for security as well. Youth PQA Plus is one part of the pork industry’s We Care initiative, which reflects the ongoing commitment to responsible farming and fosters continuous improvement. Youth PQA Plus consists of two main elements: food safety and animal well-being training. The new online certification option for Youth PQA Plus was made available on April 15, 2014. Because it is interactive, it engages students, making learning fun. “Consumers are paying more and more attention to how animals are raised and cared for. As such, we must prepare all producers - newcomers and veterans - to assure they’re aware of the best on-farm practices available,” said Jodi Sterle of Iowa State University. “I think it is extremely important for youth swine exhibitors to understand they are part of something bigger; they are part of the overall swine industry, producing food to feed the world.” Sterle is the Harman Endowed Professor in Teaching and Learning and Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator in Iowa State’s Department of Animal Science and an advisor to the Pork Checkoff’s YPQA Plus curriculum. “There’s a lot of pride that comes along with producing food - and understandably - a lot of responsibility. Youth PQA Plus helps make today’s

available to meet this duty.” Austin Langemeier is a thirdgeneration livestock producer from Texas. As a young producer, he has shown livestock in state and national swine shows where Youth PQA Plus certification has been required. To Austin, the benefits of certification continue to grow. “Youth PQA Plus is a unique experience and allows me to better understand my purpose in raising swine with a focus on the big picture. I understand the true endpoint and meaning of market animals - feeding the world - creating the protein necessary in any person’s diet,” Langemeier said. “Youth PQA Plus really hit home for me. My show pig is not an animal for my personal enjoyment, but serves a larger purpose. When the community and consumers come to shows across the nation, they personally see how their food is raised and the care that goes into it. Youth PQA Plus training has enhanced my personal understanding and role as a swine producer.” More information on the revised Youth PQA Plus program is available at www.pork.org/certification

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through the Pork Checkoff, U.S. pork producers and importers pay $0.40 per $100 of value when pigs are sold and when pigs or pork products are brought into the United States. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and food service marketing, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For more information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Services at (800) 456-7675 or check the website at www.pork.org.

USDA RELEASES 2012 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE FINDINGS The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service last Friday released the final results of the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The data is collected every five years and highlights shifting trends in operator demographics, agriculture production and farm economics. Data revealed that there are 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres. The census also yielded the following data: • The top five states for agricultural sales were California, Iowa, Texas, Nebraska and Minnesota. • 87 percent of farms are operated by families or individuals. • Young, beginning principal operators whose primary occupation is farming increased 11.3 percent. • Minority-operated farms increased, with Hispanicoperated farms increasing 21 percent. • 144,530 farm operators sell products directly to consumers, totaling more than $1.3 billion. • Organic sales grew but accounted for only 0.8 percent of the total value of agricultural production. Organic sales were $3.12 billion, up from $1.7 billion in 2007. • Farms with Internet access rose to 69.6 percent, up 13.1 percent. • The number of farms producing on-farm renewable energy more than doubled. • For the first time, corn and soybean acres topped 50 percent of all harvested acres. Texas Facts and Figures: • Texas is the #1 State in Livestock sales in the U.S. • Texas has 4,905 hog farms. • Hogs and Pigs ranks 10th in Texas top Agricultural comodity.

T P - Persistnhink P.I.G. I - Integrity ce G - Guts The ingredie nts to be su ccess

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USDA PEDV Reporting Requirements; A Work in Progress On April 18, 2014, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that in an effort to further enhance the biosecurity and health of the US swine herd while maintaining movement of pigs in the US, the USDA will require reporting of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) and Swine Delta Coronavirus in order to slow the spread of this disease across the United States. USDA is taking this latest action due to the devastating effect on swine health since it was first confirmed in the country last year even though PEDv is not a reportable disease under international standards. PEDv only affects pigs and does not pose a risk to people and is not a food safety concern. In addition to requiring reporting of the PED virus, this announcement will also require tracking movements of pigs, vehicles, and other equipment leaving affected premises; however, movements would still be allowed. USDA is also working with industry partners to increase assistance to producers who have experienced PED virus outbreaks in other critical areas such as disease surveillance, herd monitoring and epidemiological and technical support. For the past year, all segments of the U.S. pork industry have been committed to finding answers regarding Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV)-a unique and challenging production disease facing producers. While PEDV is not an international reportable disease, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced his intention to mandate reporting of PEDV infections in the United States by veterinary diagnostic labs, veterinarians and producers. The exact start date and implementation plan have yet to be determined. “Industry feedback to USDA has included very specific comments to emphasize how the proposed program could be simplified and practical, benefitting the industry while protecting producers’ and veterinarians’ information and livelihood,” says Paul Sundberg, DVM, senior vice president, science and technology for the Pork Checkoff. His advice is to stay tuned for future developments.

APPLY PROPER TESTING PROTOCOLS TO VERIFY PEDV STATUS Biosecurity remains the focus of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) prevention and control, but some producers are looking to eliminate the virus from a herd or site. “Swine researchers and veterinarians believe that it’s possible to take a PEDV-positive herd to a negative status through viral elimination and increased attention to biosecurity,” says Dave Pyburn, DVM, assistant vice president, science and technology for Pork Checkoff. “However, with the current number of farms infected with PEDV, a reintroduction of the virus is very possible unless all biosecurity protocols for the farm remain in place and are followed vigilantly.” Testing is key to verifying the PEDV status of your herd as well as that of replacement breeding stock. The Pork Checkoff’s Biocontainment Working Group has outlined testing protocols to help you ensure an accurate outcome.

Breeder Spotlight

LC Genetics & Co.

Levi, Tonya, Lawson & Lane Canales Amarillo, Texas Levi Canales is certainly making his mark in the showpig arena. He has had tremendous success in the CTBR program this year and is one that will be judging many more stock shows to come. Many of you watched him evaluate the Stars gilt show at San Angelo, doing an excellent job, and getting a little choked up about his experiences and what everything has meant to him personally. Levi has great character and a wonderful sense of humor; extremely respectable and outgoing, Levi is a great role model to others. You will always see him enjoying himself with hogs, family, and friends. As a supporter of the TPPA and a breeder certainly on the rise, we asked him to tell his story and give all of us the opportunity to get to know him and his family better.

feel like my story is a little different than most who raise showpigs. I grew up in a small south Texas ranching community, Hebbronville, TX. Although we were not involved in the production of show animals, my dad and grandfather always raised livestock. Growing up, hogs were the first specie I showed as a kid. I always preferred showing pigs and like I said when I was judging the San Angelo gilt show, I was the kid on the outside looking in. So maybe not being as successful as I’d like, gave me the motivation to raise pigs with the ability to win. After high school, I attended Clarendon College and Texas A&M on judging scholarships. While attending Clarendon College, I met Chris Fischbacher. Chris’s dad, Marcel, was raising show pigs and I spent my free time with them at their farm in Wildorado. In 2002 Cole Gardner, Chris and myself bought three purebred Hampshire gilts at Duncan and that was the START. “I truly believe that the success that I have had is due to the people God has placed in my life.

There are so many other people, that I have not mentioned, that have helped me along the way.” Several people have not only influenced me but helped along the way, like Chris and his family. First would have to be my dad, who is not only the reason my brother and I are addicted to raising livestock and doing something competitive, but also why it’s in our kids’ blood! He truly has a passion for agriculture. My brother Leo has basically paved the way for me. I followed in his exact footsteps to Clarendon and Texas A&M. Leo was in charge of selecting my show animals growing up and was average, at best, in that role. Luckily for him, he now has me to select his kids’ show barrows! Although he is seven years OLDER than me, I am glad we became best friends after college. He is one of the smartest guys I know and if I have learned anything from him, it’s to be very critical… because up to about a year ago everything I raised, according to him, SUCKED or was not good enough for his kids to show! I was fortunate to have one of the best ag teachers in the state of Texas, Juan Flores. He was the start of my livestock judging career. He taught me the fundamentals about livestock. We went on to represent the state of Texas in back to back years at the National Western stock show in Denver, Colorado. Another big influence, my brother and I were fortunate enough to have was Mr. Jerry Hawkins. Judging under him gave me opportunities and experiences that I would not have had anywhere else. More importantly than that, he taught us about life. My mom was very comfortable leaving her two boys with this man eleven hours away from home. He was right about many things, one though stands out; he told me when he was recruiting me that I would find my wife at Clarendon! After college I started buying cattle for JBS Swift & Co. in York, Nebraska. At that moment I didn’t know if I’d last one year, but I was so glad and will forever be grateful that the Hirschfeld family took me in as one of their own. Ross, Chad and Jason have done more for me than I’ll ever be able to repay. It was there where I did most of my growing up and learning in the business. I looked through hundreds of pigs monthly. I got to see boars and gilts at conference shows and then in their “working clothes” three weeks later. At the time I helped farrow at least 200 sows twice a year and pitched in at the boar stud. It was there, at that farm, where I knew what kind I wanted to raise. I started taking my stand, drawing a line in the sand if you will, on the kind I liked and the kind I didn’t want to mess with. Most of my sow herd goes back to Hirschfeld livestock genetics.

In building your herd, what’s important to you? My philosophy at the moment is to be very critical, keep my sows correct and good built, and keep only the very best. I’m not trying to say my sow herd of 30 is where I want it to be, but right now I can trace my spots all to one sow, my Durocs all to one sow and my crosses to basically three sows. I also don’t breed to boars that have the two things I dislike the most right now (bowed legs and flat pasterns). I have to say I dislike bowing a lot more; it can be a killer, and the difference between bowing a little and being embarrassing, is due to management many times. Same thing with flat pasterns; if not slowed down, a hog can definitely get pretty ouchy up front. At recent shows, I feel like if a pig doesn’t bow and is not flat pasterned, with a little luck that pig and the exhibitor have a really good chance at doing well!

Highlights and Accomplishments - 2nd Overall CTBR Top Breeders 2014 - Champion York San Angelo 2013 - Reserve York New Mexico State Fair 2013 - Champion Duroc Gilt Fall Classic 2013 - Champion Poland Barrow San Antonio 2014 - Reserve Champion Hampshire San Angelo 2014 The opportunity to judge the following shows: - South Dakota State Fair - Oklahoma Youth Expo Crossbred Gilt Sift - Texas Stars Gilt Show, San Angelo - Fall Classic (Duncan, OK) Conference Spot Show

Where do you see selection in the showpig industry headed? I feel like the industry is moving in the right direction. If we continue to take hogs good built with the right kind of width and power, we will have to get them a bit bigger! I also feel that hind leg structure will be at its all-time high in terms of importance. What advice would you give to a young person wanting to raise showpigs? First and foremost, raise hogs that you like. That’s the most important thing for me. Chances are not all of us can win classes, so in order to enjoy this business you personally have to be proud of what you’re producing. There’s not a better feeling in my opinion than going to a stock show and a family kicks out a pig you haven’t seen since you sold him and you tell yourself “I raised that!” Regardless if that pig is 1st, 3rd, or 8th the next day, the feeling driving home is the same. From another “My proudest moment is having the world record perspective, be ready to be MARRIED to it… selling spot boar at the Indiana State Fair!” What are challenges you see in the hog industry? Well the obvious challenge at the moment for us all is PEDV. On another note, I had a terrible time farrowing gilts last year, gilts that were old enough to farrow normally. These gilts were what I call “front pasture” gilts, those you would want to picture and put up on Facebook, the ones you want to show off to everyone when they come to the place. These gilts also had littermate brothers that were very successful. The pigs out of these same gilts that I was able to salvage also did well at Texas Majors. I believe the problem was that these females were too small, inside and out. I had this issue with only the crosses, so I feel that we need to get them a bit bigger in order to get gilts to have babies on their own. I definitely don’t want to sound like I’m preaching but this was something I have had trouble with and I am not embarrassed to talk about it! Personally, the biggest challenge or obstacle for me has been putting together a good full year. It seems like every year something else goes wrong or I learn about something else I should have done, that I didn’t. I call this an expensive learning curve. Who do you admire the most? My family, but more importantly the two women in my life. My wife, Tonya, is truly the one who holds our family together. We share the same dreams. She understands what it takes to make this work and she is willing to make the sacrifices. There is no doubt that without her I would not be raising hogs. I am so glad I married the livestock girl from the city. I know why my mom loves her so much, because they’re a lot alike. My mom, has basically put me on a pedestal and told me to go for it, whatever I wanted. Her world revolves around her children, and has always put our needs before hers. As you all know, it takes special women to put up with hog farmers. What benefit or values do you see with people’s involvement in agriculture? Hard work. It’s important that young people realize that nothing in life comes easy. A little sweat on your brow and a few blisters on your hands never killed anybody. Growing up, I was always helping my dad move cows. I hope my boys will do the same. It also gives families an opportunity to bond. Showing gave my sister and me a common interest. Even though we had different hobbies growing up, we always spent quality time together working with our animals. If we had not had that time together, we would have lost opportunities to make lasting memories. What’s your favorite show to attend? My favorite junior show would have to be the Houston Livestock Show, because we make it a vacation. There is nothing better than spending time with family at a hog show! Make sure you visit www.levicanales.com for your showpig needs.

Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles of Joy

Ingredients: 1 pound fresh green beans (French) 10-12 slices of thick-cut bacon 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

Chocolate-Covered Bacon

Wash and thoroughly dry green beans, then season with salt and pepper. Bundle together about 5-8 green beans, wrap a slice of bacon around the center of the beans to hold it together. Lay the bundle bacon seam side down in the baking dish to hold it together. Repeat with remaining beans.

Heat a small saucepan over low heat. Add butter, brown sugar and garlic and whisk until melted and combined. Using a pastry brush, brush the mixture over top of each green bean bundle. Cover the bundles with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10-15 minutes more. A little piece of heaven emerges! Ingredients: Directions: 12 thick-sliced bacon strips 12 wooden skewers (12 inches long) Thread each bacon strip onto a wooden skewer. Place on a rack in a large baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 6 oz. white candy coating, chopped minutes or until crisp. Cool completely. In a microwave, melt 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips candy coating; stir until smooth. Combine chocolate chips 1 tablespoon shortening and shortening; melt in a microwave and stir until smooth. Optional Toppings: chopped dried apple With pastry brushes, coat bacon on both sides with melted chips, apricots and crystallized ginger, finely coatings. Top each strip as desired. Place on waxed paperchopped pecans and pistachios, toasted lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm. Store in the coconut, kosher salt, brown sugar, cayenne refrigerator. pepper and coarsely ground black pepper

Mediterranean Back Ribs with Pomegranate Sauce PorkBeInspired.com

5 lbs. pork back ribs 1 tbs. kosher salt 1 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground 1 16-oz bottle pomegranate juice, 100%

2/3 cup ketchup 1 tbs. molasses 1 tbs. soy sauce 2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced

Season ribs with salt and pepper. For a charcoal grill: prepare an indirect medium-hot fire with drip pan in the center. For a gas grill: heat grill to medium and turn off burners directly below where ribs will go. Lightly oil cooking grate. Place ribs over indirect heat (over drip pan or unlit burner). Close grill hood and cook until ribs are tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (If using charcoal, add more charcoal briquettes to fire, if necessary, to maintain grill temperature of about 325-350° F.) Meanwhile, bring pomegranate juice to a boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Boil until thickened and reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 15 minutes. Stir in ketchup, molasses, soy sauce, scallions and garlic. Bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

During last 20 minutes of cooking ribs, baste ribs with sauce. Ribs are done when meat pulls away from the bone. Yield: 6 servings, (4-rib slab per serving )

If You’re in the Area.... BJ’s Restaurant Throughout US

* Sweet Pig Pizza

(pictured)

* Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwhich

Showcasing the best pork around !

Reef

Live Oak Barbecue

Houston

Austin

* Smoked Pork Chop (pictured)

* Pork Loin Stuffed w/ Sweet Kraut

* Bacon Braised Collard Greens

(pictured)

* Pulled pork from Whole Smoked Pig

Submitted by: Blake Sevier

* Grilled Pork Chop

* Hawaiian Style Pork Belly

Submitted by: Alli Gunn

Submitted by: Sierra Stephens

SHARE WITH US!!! Send us your favorite yummy pork dishes and restaurants so we can publish it here!!!

CARTOON CLIPS State Fair of Texas Certified Texas Bred Registry Certificates Now Available to purchase!!

Submitted by: Wayne & Leslie Harman

Online at www.texaspork.org

CAPITOL REPORT Meet the Candidates for the Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller (R)

www.millerfortexas.com Miller, 58, a former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Stephenville, is a former vocational agriculture teacher and a world champion cowboy who just won his 9th world title. Miller graduated from De Leon High School and is an honors graduate of Cisco Junior College where he received his associates of arts degree. He is a 1978 honors graduate of Tarleton State University and earned a bachelor of science in vocational agriculture education. In the Texas Legislature, Miller served as chairman of the Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee, which oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture. Miller was chosen to work directly on the Agriculture Policy Board and was also appointed to serve on the National Energy Council. He is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a former Farm Bureau director, and a member of Leadership Stephenville Alumni, the Tarleton State University Alumni Association, the SISD Athletic Booster Club, the Texas Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association.

Jim Hogan (D)

No campaign website Hogan, 63, is a Cleburne insurance agent and former dairy farmer. This is his first run for political office. Hogan, who spent less than $5,000 campaigning in the primary, has told the media he does not need a campaign website because “somebody’s going to Google you anyway.” Hogan is a graduate of Mansfield High School in 1969. He started his own dairy farm in 1973, operating it successfully until 2005, when he switched to a cow-andcalf operation. Now his farm has mostly Angus cow-andcalf pairs, with some Holstein heifers, and some milk goats and horses.

VS.

Sid Miller

Jim Hogan

Advertise in the next issue! Some Features in the August / September Issue to include: • CTBR Breeder Directory • Sales Trail Listing • Membership Renewal Info • CTBR Info This Issue will be Distributed Statewide!! TPPA Members County Agents Ag Teachers Those buying your hogs!!

Make sure you reserve your advertisement space

now!! Advertisement info available in this publication.

Sales Trail form and Advertisement info available at www.texaspork.org or call the office at 800-501-7675.

Market News Wiechman Pig Company

May 29, 2014 (Daily Buying Station)

Production Agriculture Needs You!

Top Butchers (230-290 lbs.) - $0.73/lb. Sows (300 - 450 lbs.) - $0.67/lb. Sows (450 - 500 lbs.) - $0.71/lb. Sows (500 - 550 lbs.) - $0.74/lb. Sows (550 - 600 lbs.) - $0.75/lb. Sows (600+ lbs.) - $0.76/lb. Boars (<200) - $0.52 /lb. Boars (200 - 250) - $0.54 /lb. Boars (250 - 300) - $0.52 /lb. Boars (300+) - $0.26 /lb.

Gainesville Livestock Auction

This honorable Career needs bright minds like yours so that we can continue to lead the world in food production. Texas Farm, LLC, a growing Pork Production Company, is expanding its Animal Production and Production Leadership Team.

Join us!

Bring your Bright Mind and start Helping Feed the World! Contact us at 4200 South Main Perryton, Texas or contact Isabel (806) 435-5935 ext. 3100; idominguez@texasfarmpork.com or Shannon (806) 202-6457; sseay@texasfarmpork.com to start pursuing your future today.

March 20, 2014

#1 Butchers (230-270 lbs.) - $1.00 - $1.20/lb. #2 Butchers (220-280 lbs.) - $0.85 - $1.00/lb. Sows (<400 lbs.) - $0.40 - $0.65/lb. Sows (400-500 lbs.) - $0.50 - $0.55/lb. Sows (500-700 lbs.) - $0.50 /lb. Feeder Pigs (100-175 lbs.) - $0.50 - $1.50/lb. Feeder Pigs (100-175 lbs.) - $1.00 - $1.40/lb. Boars (<200 lbs.) - $0.70 - $1.00/lb. Boars (200 - 300 lbs.) - $0.55 - $1.00/lb.

Brenham Livestock Auction March 23, 2014

Butchers 1-2 Grade (230-260 lbs.) - $0.80 - $0.95/lb. Butchers 2-3 Grade (225-275 lbs.) - $0.80 - $0.85/lb. Butchers 3-4 Grade (225-275 lbs.) - $0.75 - $0.80/lb. Packer Sows 1-2 Grade (550-700 lbs.) - $0.50 - $0.60/lb. Packer Sows 2-3 Grade (350-500 lbs.) - $0.45 - $0.50/lb. Packer Sows 3-4 Grade (250-500 lbs.) - $0.40 - $0.45/lb. Packer Boars (300-700) - $10.00 - $15.00/CWT Feeder Pigs 1-2 Grade (40-80 lbs.) - $1.50 - $1.70/lb. Feeder Pigs 2-3 Grade (40-80 lbs.) - $1.10 - $1.40/lb.

Seguin Cattle Company May 28, 2014

#1 Butchers - $1.00 - $1.15/lb. #2 Butchers - $0.90 - $ 1.00/lb. Sows - $45.00 - $70.00/CWT Feeder Pigs - $1.25 - $1.50/lb.

CHECK YOUR E-MAIL FOR WEEKLY MARKET REPORTS

R is

tar S g n i Alexandra Ely

It’s a Family Affair! Raising and showing pigs is truly a family effort. My grandma, Uncle Christopher and Aunt Lori manage the sow herd daily. It takes the entire team during farrowing season, and I can’t remember how many nights I have spent in the farrowing barn delivering pigs, even pulling them myself when necessary. This teamwork continues through the show season. My mom didn’t grow up around livestock, but has quickly learned about pigs and makes sure that we get to the barn every day after school to work with our pigs, feed and clean pens. Shows are a team effort as well and can be quite hectic given the number of pigs we show. At the end of the day, it takes all of us working together as a unit to be successful; I love my family for all their help and support! My first showing experience: The earliest show experience

Alexandra Ely is a thirteen year old from Sisterdale, TX. She is the daughter of Chuck and Toni Ely and big sister for Zoe. Starting this Fall she will be attending Comfort High and is extremely active in the Comfort / Kendall County 4-H programs. Alexandra has a deep passion for agriculture, especially swine, her family, and her community. Here is her story of raising and showing swine, experiences along the way and the people who have assisted! I come from a long line of farmers and ranchers that have depended on agriculture for their way of life. While my grandparents, great grandparents and those before them raised livestock for food, showing at livestock shows also goes a long way back in my family. My dad and uncle, Christopher Hohmann, raised and showed pigs when they were in school. My great uncle, David Spenrath, has always had a successful herd of show pigs, as his kids and many nieces and nephews, including my dad and uncle, often showed pigs from his farm. My dad also had a couple of sows as he was growing up, as did my uncle. When I was old enough I started showing pigs and Angora goats, which was about seven years ago. Some of my first show pigs were gilts. This is when my dad and uncle decided to start raising show pigs, instead of hauling the gilts to market or putting them in the freezer. Thus, C-C Show Pigs was born and quickly became our family affair of raising and showing swine. Over the years, we have been blessed with a very successful show pig operation; now breeding about 20 females. We currently raise Chester Whites, Yorkshires, Hampshires, Berkshires and Crosses through the full production cycle. In addition to pigs, we also raise and show Angora goats. At one time, we had as many as 25 nannies but have scaled back to about 10 due to the growth of our show pig operation.

that I remember was at our local Comfort FFA livestock show my first year. That year I took breeding gilts, barrows and a whole herd of Angora goats to the show. I remember the chaos of the shows, trying to get animals ready and to and from the show ring. There were lots of older showman, more skilled than me, and I was very nervous and intimidated. I remember doing well, and as we were loading up our tack, the ag teacher came over and asked us to stay until the show was over. We weren’t sure why, but later learned that they had an overall high point award and I had won it in my first year! That was such a confidence builder for me, and a great start to my competitive showing career.

My Favorite Show: SAN ANGELO! Since I show both gilts and barrows, the San Angelo Livestock Show becomes a week-long family vacation for us. My Uncle Christopher and Aunt Lori often travel there with us, along with other cousins who raise and show pigs; we really enjoy the family time together there. Another reason I like that show so much is the opportunity to show in both the Certified Texas Bred Gilt show as well as the Junior Breeding show. With two different judges on the same day and with the same pigs, it is often interesting to see how the placings can differ. The weather can also be fun, as I have seen everything from super hot to cold and snow! Finally, the staff in San Angelo is very helpful and understanding. One of my most memorable experiences was in San Angelo at the 2012 CTBR Texas Stars Gilt show. I was showing a York gilt that I had done extremely well with all season, including Breed Champion honors at the Hill Country District Junior Livestock Show. She was also my showmanship partner, and we worked together to win the Massey Showmanship Award at that same district show. In San Angelo, I drove her up to the ring for the first look and was devastated --- the dead sea! I couldn’t believe what was happening! My mom, dad and uncle always told me to never give up, and t o

show my pigs all the way back to the pen. That’s exactly what I did. As the judge entered the dead sea for one last look, we kicked it into high gear. We hit our show stride right in front of him as we moved towards the gate and were rewarded with the last pen in our class. We actually went on to win the class and make the sale. That experience sticks in my mind every time I enter the show ring.

My Favorite Pig: While I have bonded with many pigs over my short showing career, my favorite pig would be Sunny. She is a Yorkshire sow that I showed four show seasons ago and has become one of our foundation females. We continue to breed her pure each year and have had incredible success with her offspring; we currently have two of her daughters in our herd as well. She is my favorite because she just has this attitude and personality about her that is so intelligent and loving and she has been that way ever since we brought her home to the farm. She was one of the best show gilts I have ever shown and always was my partner in showmanship competitions. I have come to realize that each pig has their own personality, and the bonds we form are like those people form with their dogs and cats. Raising pigs gives me the opportunity to bond with them from birth and the excitement of farrowing a litter of pigs to see how the genetic match up works out is amazing, almost like opening presents on your birthday! The personal rewards of raising and showing your own livestock are priceless, especially when you have success in the show ring. My showmanship accomplishments are some of my proudest moments. Those wins represent the ultimate teamwork of my family, the close bonding and relationships I have formed with my pigs, and the hard work that begins at home --- all essential elements of becoming a good showman. I am also proud of the knowledge I have gained about swine in general through my participation skillathons, in particular the San Antonio Livestock Show swine skillathon. I have had great support and help from my family as well.

Lessons Learned: Being involved in production agriculture has taught me many valuable lessons, allowed me to meet numerous people and gain lasting friendships along the way. Responsibility and hard work go a long way and I truly believe that you get out of it what you put into it. I have gone to jackpot shows and hadn’t really put in all the hard work with certain animals, and the results showed. I have also learned about safe and healthy livestock production and its importance in the food chain. As producers, we not only have a responsibility to produce safe food and protect and promote animal well-being but we must also ensure practices to protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and promote ethical principles that contribute to a better quality of life in our

communities; all of which are principles of the “We Care” initiative of the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council. Finally, I have learned to cherish every moment in life, as they come and go quickly. I won’t be able to show pigs forever, so I have to make the most of this time while I can! My mom has given me the best advice applicable to both the show ring and life in general. She continuously tells me not to change who I am or the way I show just to meet a judge’s preference. Every time I enter the show ring, she reminds me with these words, “Just do you!”

School, Community and Extra-curricular activities:

I’m a competitor, no matter what the event. Outside the showring, I am very involved in athletics. I was a member of the two-time Comfort Middle School District Champion volleyball and basketball teams and I have also been very successful in cross country and track events. While middle school athletics forced a short break from golf where I played in the local U.S. Kid Golf Tour, I am looking forward to playing again in high school next year. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a passion for volleyball, and I play anytime I can. I have been playing since I was about eight years old and have played club volleyball for several years outside of school. I am planning to be a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In addition to athletics, I am involved in student council and have excelled in other UIL activities like oral reading, modern oratory, and math competitions. I like to give back to my school and community and volunteer at school events like the bike rodeo and school festival. I also serve as an officer in my local 4-H club as well as our County 4-H Swine Club. I have also been fortunate enough to make the Superindendent’s Honor Roll, and was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at the end of my seventh grade year. NJHS has been a great experience for me; one that has included leadership opportunities as well as citizenship and giving through community service projects. I plan to continue to challenge myself academically by taking honors and dual credit classes throughout high school.

My Future: Continue showing as long as I possibly can. While raising show pigs is very expensive, I hope to learn more about the production and financial aspects of the operation. As I enter high school next year, I will also be joining the FFA, taking agriculturerelated classes to further my knowledge of livestock production and would like to get more involved in livestock judging. I would like to encourage kids like me who are passionate about livestock, especially show pigs, to get involved in their 4-H and FFA clubs, and species-related associations like the Texas Pork Producers Association. There are great resources available and opportunities to learn and make new friends all in the name of agriculture. I am looking forward to again attending the TPPA Conference this July and invite my fellow swine enthusiasts to join me in Kerrville for a great time!

Sow Packers to Require Premise ID Tags in 2015 In an effort to improve pre-harvest traceability and improve national disease surveillance in the pork industry, many major U.S. packers and processors will require a USDA-approved, official premises identification number (PIN) swine tag as a condition of sale for breeding stock beginning Jan. 1, 2015. According to Dr. Patrick Webb, Pork Checkoff’s director of swine health, the USDA-approved, official PIN tags for breeding swine are customizable with or without a management number and can be purchased in multiple colors. “This allows producers to use the official tag in any color as a management tag or wait to apply the tag to sows and boars before leaving the production site to enter harvest channels,” Webb said. Once an animal is identified with an official PIN tag, it should not be removed or given a different official tag in the case of paritysegregated farms. Also, records documenting the identification and movement of breeding stock should be kept for three years. To date, packers that will require PIN tags as of January 2015

include: Johnsonville, Hillshire Brands, Calihan Pork Processors, Bob Evans Farms, Wampler’s Farm Sausage, Pine Ridge Farms, Pioneer Packing Co., Pork King Packing and Abbyland Pork Pack. The official PIN Tag is only for breeding stock entering harvest channels. Technically it only needs to be in the ear when they (culls sows and boars) are shipped from the site to either a buyer like Wiechman or direct to a sow packer. The PIN tag requirement does not apply to market pigs. Where the sow is going to be marketed will determine the requirement for a PIN Tag. If you are selling direct to one of the 9 packers requiring the PIN Tags you will need to have one in the ear. Chances are that is not happening so you will probably sell to a company like Wiechman’s, Park’s, or Lynch’s. Since those companies market to some or all of the 9 packers, then it would be in the best interest of the producer to have the PIN Tag in the ear of the sow or boar so there won’t be any problems with marketing in regards to the identification requirement. More information can be found at www.pork.org/PINtag.

CAFO Tour with TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality toured Hitch Pork facilities in Gruver with TPPA Executive Brandon Gunn. The tour was put together so that TCEQ could gain an understanding of pork production practices and how different potential regulations could affect our producers. Additional topics discussed included Pollution Prevention Plan recordkeeping/reporting, Nutrient Management Plans, Manure management practices/composting, Retention ponds, and Sludge removal process.

L to R: Mike Brandherm, Hitch Pork General Manager Patricia Burt, Hitch Enterprises Environmental Affairs Jason Hitch, Hitch Enterprises Toby Baker, TCEQ Commissioner Ramiro Garcia, TCEQ Deputy Director of Compliance and Enforcement Richard Hyde, TCEQ Executive Director Brandon Gunn, TPPA Executive V.P.

DID YOU KNOW? 87 % of farms are operated

by families

PANHANDLE RRAP PROJECT COMES TO A CLOSE

For the past 18 months, the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission’s (PRPC) Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee (PREMAC) has been engaged in a $1.4 million project designed to enhance the resiliency of the region’s livestock industry against natural and man-made threats. The main elements of the project successfully came to a close on March 31. The project was implemented under the Regional Resiliency Assessment Program (RRAP), a program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security intended to strengthen infrastructure critical to the welfare of the nation, to better withstand acts of terrorism or other natural disasters. The most prominent outcome of the PRPC RRAP is the development of planning tools and guides to benefit livestock producers, along with associated livestock industries and local emergency managers. The new suite of RRAP-funded planning products consists of a biosecurity guide, business continuity guide, and regional Foreign and Emerging Animal Disease plan. The biosecurity and business continuity guides are designed to function as templates for livestock industries in addressing the most significant threats to facility operations. “The groups involved in the RRAP project are to be applauded for their efforts and commitment in the design and development of these extremely resourceful templates. I foresee the guides established in the RRAP project to be the blue print for other regional and state groups in preparing and implementing a course of action for potential natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Their layout should serve as an excellent tool that can be used by everyone in industry,” said Brandon Gunn, TPPA Executive Vice President. Find more on PRPC’s emergency preparedness measures www.i-info.com/go/lipx

The entire community of Guadalupe County came out May 1 for the annual Ag Festival, known by many as the Agri-Feast, sponsored by the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce. The one-evening gathering incorporates educational booths, agriculturallyrelated commercial booths and food booths. This is a great time that gives people the opportunity to taste the food and see the sights that the local agricultural community generates. Pictured are members of the Seguin Swine Breeders Association, Ellen Langemeier, Debbie Real, Tim Doege, and Marshall Strey, serving up piggy wings and boiled sausage.

GENERAL STORE Have something to sell? Looking for some equipment?

Look No Further! Here is your chance to promote the products, equipment, facilities or labor you have available for sale. You can also post items or labor that is needed or wanted. This is not designed for animals, sales or shows; we have other avenues for those areas. The General Store is the classified ads section of the newsletter; ads are open to everyone. Contact Cassidy with any questions or to place your ad today. FACILITIES/ LAND

EMPLOYMENT

WANTED

1200 Sow Farrow To Finish Operation Moore Co., TX. with computerized feed mill, owner managed lease with major hog co. presently in force until May 2016. Main unit well located on pvmt. near Dumas, Texas, East unit on pvmt. w/two homes leased to others at this time for additional income. Two separate units, can be divided! Please contact broker for info package and price. www.scottlandcompany.com www.texascrp.com Ben G. Scott, Broker 800.933.9698 day/eve

Texas Farm, LLC. Texas Farm, LLC a growing Pork Production company located in Perryton, Texas is expanding its Animal Production and Production Leadership Team. Do you desire to be a part of a progressive company that is focused on Helping Feed the World? Then, come by 4200 South Main in Perryton or call 806-435-5935 extension 3100 for Isabel and extension 3101 for Patricia; to start pursuing your future today.

Nursery Flooring Needed In need of nursery flooring, must be plastic or plastic coated. Snap together flooring may work as well. Various sizes welcome.

DOING SOMETHIN G COOL

EXCITING NEWS FAMILY / FARM MILESTONE

Contact Kenneth Kensing at 830-928-4845. Farrowing Crates Needed In the search of a set of at least two. Would like them to be fully furnished. Call or text photos to 830-386-6360.

UPCOMIN EVENT

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HAD A BABY

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Of�icial Rules

Certified Texas Bred Registry A Program of the Texas Pork Producers Association, Inc. Title Sponsor: Lindner Feed & Milling, Comfort, Texas

Purpose

The purpose of the Certified Texas Bred Registry is to promote Texas bred and produced show pigs and to support the 4-H and FFA club members of Texas. DEFINITIONS CTB Class Champion(s) - The highest placing CTB Pig in each For the purposes of these rules the following words and weight class of each breed division at each of the shows. The phrases are defined to provide a better understanding of the judge determines the placing and the placing must be an Certified Texas Bred Registry: official placing listed or recorded by the show. Certified Texas Bred Registry (CTB) – A program created by the Texas Pork Producers Association (TPPA) in which youth and producer members of TPPA may participate. The purpose is to promote Texas bred and produced show pigs and to support 4-H and FFA club members of Texas. CTB Certificate – A form published by TPPA that is used by breeders, the breeder provides their name and address, the breed, ear notches and sex of the pig being identified. The breeder then provides the buyer or exhibitor with the CTB Certificate. The exhibitor will present the CTB certificate to individuals representing CTB at the show. Breeders are NOT allowed to make any copies of the CTB Certificate. CTB Pig –A pig that has satisfied the requirements of eligibility of the CTBR Program. CTBR Replacement Certificate – a certificate that will be issued in lieu of an original CTBR Certificate issued by a CTBR Breeder. The CTBR Replacement Certificate will be available at the show. CTB Breeder Log (Breeder Log) – A form furnished by TPPA to breeders to record the breed, and ear notches of a specific pig. The breeder is required to mail, fax or email a copy of the Breeder Log by December 15, 2014. If the Breeder Log is faxed, please call the office to verify that the fax was received. CTB Litter Record – A record of the number of litters farrowed and litter notches assigned to those litters furnished to the TPPA CTBR Program prior to September 1, 2014. The TPPA strongly encourages breeders to notch litters in sequence starting with the litter 1 notch. Breeders that do not use this method will furnish litter numbers as part of the CTB Litter Record. Show or Shows – CTB only participates in the following market barrow shows: Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show (Fort Worth); San Antonio Livestock Exposition; Houston Livestock Show; San Angelo Stock Show; State Fair of Texas; Star of Texas Livestock Show (Austin). CTB also participates in the Texas Stars Gilt Show at San Angelo Stock Show. A CTB Certificate is valid only at these shows.

BREEDER ELIGIBILITY 1. A breeder must be actively engaged in the production of porcine animals within the state of Texas. “Actively engaged” is defined as an owner, operator, contract operator, manager, or employee who is committed to, occupied with, and involved in the production of porcine animals. 2. A breeder must be an active member of the Texas Pork Producers Association. In the case of partnerships, each breeder listed on the CTBR Certificate must be a member of the Texas Pork Producers Association. 3. A breeder must comply with all rules of CTB and meet all requirements and pay all fees for properly registering pigs in CTB. Failure to comply will result in the breeder becoming ineligible to participate in CTB and all CTB Numbers purchased by the breeder will be invalid. 4. A breeder may be requested to provide the CTB with information that validates the authenticity of breeding, farrowing, raising and registering pigs as Texas bred as defined by CTB. This may include a farm visit from representatives of the CTB. Failure to comply may result in the breeder becoming ineligible to participate in CTB. 5. A breeder must submit a CTB Litter Record to the TPPA prior to September 1, 2014 to be eligible to purchase CTBR Certificates. The Litter Record must include the number of litters farrowed and a record of the litter notches assigned to those litters. If past deadline September 1, 2014 and before December 15, 2014: To be considered for eligibility a breeder must submit to TPPA in writing a Litter Record with the number of litters farrowed and an explanation of their litter notches assigned to those litters; breeder will pay a monetary fee of $100.00 and will be subject to record and herd inspection. The deadline for submitting a Litter Record is December 15, 2014, after which a breeder will not be eligible to purchase CTBR certiﬁcates. PIG ELIGIBILITY 1. Each pig must be conceived in Texas. 2. Each pig must be farrowed and raised in Texas by the breeder registering the pig. 3. Each pig must be properly ear-notched by the breeder for litter number and pig number.

Of�icial Rules

Certified Texas Bred Registry

-continuedPIG REGISTRATION

Breeder must: 1. Purchase an official CTB Certificate for each pig to be registered for the participating shows. 2. Accurately complete all of the breeder information requested on the CTB certificate. 3. Give the completed CTB certificate to the purchaser or exhibitor of the pig. 4. Record the pig’s ear notches, breed, and sex next to the corresponding CTB Certificate Number on the Breeder Log. 5. Breeder Logs must be faxed, mailed or emailed to the TPPA by January 1, 2015. Additions or corrections to the Breeder Logs may be submitted at any time after the deadline without penalty. A late fee of $25.00 must be submitted with all Breeder Logs received or postmarked after December 15, 2014. In the event that a breeder does not submit a Breeder Log, all certificates will be rendered invalid until a log is submitted. Breeder Logs will be accepted at the show, accompanied with the late fee payment. Changes and additions to Breeder Logs will be accepted at the show. If the Breeder Log is faxed please call the office to verify that the fax was received. 6. Keep the original Breeder Log for your records. TERMS AND FEES 1. An official CTB Certificate will be valid for the spring 2015 shows or until invalidated by CTB. A separate Certificate must be purchased for the State Fair of Texas. 2. For first orders (If breeder has met eligibility requirements.): CTB Certificates are $7.00 each if purchased on or before December 15, 2014. CTB Certificates are $14.00 each if purchased between December 16, 2014 and January 15, 2015. CTB Certificates may be purchased after January 15, 2015 for $35.00 each. Post mark date is required to qualify. Allow 7 to 10 days for processing orders after TPPA receives the order and payment. CTB Certificates will be sent to breeders by regular mail of the U.S Postal Service. 3. For Orders of Additional CTB Certificates: Breeders that order more than 50 CTB Certificates by the first order deadline of December 15, 2014 can purchase additional CTB Certificates for $7.00 each. Breeders that order less than 50 CTB Certificates by the first order deadline of December 15, 2014 can purchase additional CTB Certificates for $14.00 each. 4. Payment of all fees and charges must be received before CTB Certificates will be mailed. 5. CTB Certificates are non-transferable between breeders. 6. Lost CTB Certificates must be reported to TPPA and will be replaced if requested. 7. Breeders may send a written request for a refund of unused CTB Certificates along with the unused CTB Certificates to TPPA postmarked by December 15, 2014. All CTB Certificates will be refunded at the rate of $4.00 each.

SHOW PREMIUMS & REQUIREMENTS 1. TPPA will pay a premium to the highest placing CTB pig in each weight class of the market barrow shows at the following livestock exhibitions: Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show (Fort Worth); San Antonio Livestock Exposition; Houston Livestock Show, the State Fair of Texas, and the Star of Texas Livestock Show (Austin). CTB Registry will contribute additional premium money to the San Angelo Junior Market Barrow Show to be distributed to all placing barrows. CTB Registry will also provide trophy buckles to all San Angelo Junior Market Barrow Show Breed Champion and Reserve Breed Champion Barrows and trophies to the Grand & Reserve Grand Champion of the Show. In addition to providing additional scholarship monies, the CTB Registry will also provide trophy buckles to the Grand & Reserve Grand Champion Purebred and Crossbred Gilts and trophies to the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion Gilts at the CTBR Texas Stars Gilt Show. 2. Premiums will be paid to the exhibitor by mail following the oﬃcial placing at each show. CTB Premiums at the San Angelo Livestock Show will be paid by the San Angelo Livestock Show. 3. The exhibitor must present the CTB Certificate when requested by the individual representing CTB at the show. 4. A designated representative of the TPPA will be present at each show in order to verify the qualifications of each barrow or gilt and collect CTBR Certificates. These representatives will also provide breeders and exhibitors with CTBR Replacement Certificates. PROTESTS & PENALTIES 1. All protests of these rules and regulations, or of the Certified Texas Bred Registry, must be made in writing to TPPA. TPPA and/or the CTB Committee will settle all protests and disputes. 2. Failure to properly register pigs sold as CTB, or registration of ineligible pigs as CTB, or the misuse of CTB Certificates will subject the individual to penalties set forth by TPPA. 3. Any violation of these rules or regulations may result in disqualification of eligibility of pig registration and/or disqualification for premiums and/or suspension from the Certified Texas Bred Registry. 4. In the event that CTB Certificates are invalidated or if a breeder is disqualified from participating in the Certified Texas Bred Registry all fees and penalties paid by the breeder are forfeited to TPPA. 5. The validity of the Certiﬁed Texas Bred Registry is wholly dependent on the honesty and integrity of the breeders participating in the Registry and the reliability of pig registration. 6. Cases of CTB Pig Eligibility will be determined by CTBR Committee members.

You can order CTBR Certiﬁcates and sign-up for membership online at the secure TPPA website at www.texaspork.org

Producer Connection The official newsletter of the Texas Pork Producers Association

2014 Advertising Rate & Speciﬁcations

The Producer Connection is a bi-monthly newsletter sent to active members of the Texas Pork Producers Association. This newsletter includes current pork related events, updates on issues facing Texas pork producers and other news related to our industry. Scheduled publication months include February, April, June, August, October and December. * Special issues may be published in addition to these scheduled newsletters as necessary.

Ad Rates: All ads will be in full color. Prices are for completed Camera Ready advertisements, layout and designing of ads is available. Limited space is available for advertisements and are First Come, First Serve.

Back Cover/ Full Page Two-Thirds Page Half Page Third Page Fourth Page Business Card

$400 (Limited availability) Next Issue Publi $325 shed: $275 August 2014 $200 $150 FULL PAGE $75 Bleed Size: 8.75”w x 11.25”h

* 10% discount on 6 or more continuous issues

Trim Size: 8.5”w x 11”h

BACK PAGE/ 2/3 PAGE HALF-PAGE HORIZONTAL THIRD-PAGE VERTICAL FOURTH-PAGE VERTICAL Bleed Size: 8.75”w x 7”h Bleed Size: 8.75”w x 5.5”h Trim Size: 2.75”w x 11”h Trim Size: 4.2”w x 5.4”h Trim Size: 8.5”w x 7”h Trim Size: 8.5”w x 5.5”h Changes in Certified Texas Bred Registry For 2013 Shows

Changes in Certified Texas Bred Registry For 2013 Shows

The TPPA Board of Directors have adopted rule changes submitted by the Committee that oversees the Certified Texas Bred Registry. These new rules will impact producers participating in the CTBR program shows next year, including Fort Worth, San Angelo Barrow Show, Stars of Texas Gilt Show & Sale in San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston and the 2013 State Fair.

During the Texas Pork Industry Conference in San Angelo, CTBR Committee Chairman, David Kempen, explained the rule changes and the purpose for the changes. Kempen said that over the years, the CTBR program has provided thousands of 4-H & FFA students with additional premium money, prizes, awards and scholarships, provided by the hundreds of Texas breeders participating in CTBR. He said that these Texas breeders have been rewarded with significant recognition and increased market demand for their pigs. Kempen explained that all of this has been accomplished based on the last statement in the CTBR rules: “The validity of the Certified Texas Bred Registry is wholly dependent on the honesty and integrity of the breeders participating in the Registry and the reliability of pig registration.” Kempen said that the integrity and honesty of a small number of breeders have come into question by the CTBR Committee and that they felt it important to provide some increased requirements for the CTBR program. They proposed the new rule changes that were adopted by the Board members on July 6, 2012. The most significant rule change is that producers will now have to provide TPPA with the number of litters farrowed at their farm and the ear notching system that they use for identifying their litters. (See CTBR rules in this issue and on the texaspork.org web site.) Prior to October 1, 2012, producers that will want to purchase CTBR certificates for pigs showing in 2013 must have submitted to TPPA a “CTB Litter Record”. A CTB Litter Record will be an official document to tell TPPA how many litters are farrowed at the farm and litter ear notches assigned to those litters. This will include an explanation of the litter notching system used by the producer. TPPA will strongly encourage breeders to notch litters in sequence starting with the litter “1” notch. However, if producers use a different sequence and numbering system they must provide an explanation of that system. Kempen explained that most producers will be able to comply with this new requirement easily because they identify their litters in sequence each year starting with the litter “1” notch. He said that when looking through all of the CTBR pig registrations at the shows most producer’s litters can be followed with little effort. However, Kempen said that the Committee becomes very concerned when you know that a farm only farrowed 25 litters and most of their pigs have litter notches of 1 through 25, then a few have litter notches with 50’s or 80’s. He said that seems difficult to understand and puts into question the integrity of that breeders pig registrations. He and the CTBR Committee believe that the new “CTB Litter Record” will give them a better understanding of a breeders notching system and allow them to ef-

BUSINESS CARD Trim Size: 3.5”w x 2”h

Changes in Certified Texas Bred Registry For 2013 Shows

Kempen said that the integrity and honesty of a small number of breeders have come into question by the CTBR Committee and that they felt it important to provide some increased requirements for the CTBR program. They proposed the new rule changes that were adopted by the Board members on July 6, 2012. The most significant rule change is that producers will now have to provide TPPA with the number of litters farrowed at their farm and the ear notching system that they use for identifying their litters. (See CTBR rules in this issue and on the texaspork.org web site.)

Prior to October 1, 2012, producers that will want to purchase CTBR certificates for pigs showing in 2013 must have submitted to TPPA a “CTB Litter Record”. A CTB Litter Record will be an oﬃcial document to tell TPPA how many litters are farrowed at the farm and litter ear notches assigned to those litters. This will include an explanation of the litter notching system used by the producer. TPPA will strongly encourage breeders to notch litters in sequence starting with the litter “1” notch. However, if producers use a diﬀerent sequence and numbering system they must provide an explanation of that system.

Kempen explained that most producers will be able to comply with this new requirement easily because they identify their litters in sequence each year starting with the litter “1” notch. He said that when looking through all of the CTBR pig registrations at the shows most producer’s litters can be followed with little effort. However, Kempen said that the Committee becomes very concerned when you know that a farm only farrowed 25 litters and most of their pigs have litter notches of 1 through 25, then a few have litter notches with 50’s or 80’s. He said that seems difficult to understand and puts into question the integrity of that breeders pig registrations. He and the CTBR Committee believe that the new “CTB Litter Record” will give them a better understanding of a breeders notching system and allow them to effectively visit with breeders about their pig registrations when necessary. The CTBR Committee wants breeders to know that this year the October 1, 2012 deadline for submitting a CTB Litter Record in order to be allowed to purchased CTBR certificates is very firm with one small exception: if a breeder does not meet the deadline this first year of the new rule, they can still submit the CTB Litter Record but they will be charged a monetary fee to be eligible to participate in the CTBR program. (See CTBR Rules in this magazine and on the texaspork.org web site.)

Layout and Design Charges: If a camera-ready ad is not provided, advertiser will be responsible for layout fees. The ad design rate is determined by the size and scope of the advertisement. Please call for pricing on ad design rates.

Advertisement Reservations: To reserve your advertisement space please contact Cassidy Smith at 512-453-0615 or csmith@texaspork.org.

submitted by All Ads must be July 21, 2014 e August Issue. th in d e d u cl in to be

Texas Pork Producers Association P.O. Box 10168 Austin, Texas 78766 512-453-0615 www.texaspork.org

For all Producer Connection questions contact Cassidy Smith at 512-453-0615 or csmith@texaspork.org.

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The Chuck & Debbie Real Scholarship The year 2014 brings forth some key historical anniversaries. This year marks 125 years since the establishment of the Texas Swine Breeders Association, which evolved to the TPPA. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now been 100 years since Babe Ruth made his Major League Baseball debut; 50 years since the Beatles made their U.S. debut; and 10 years since the launch of Facebook. But in Guadalupe County, a very special anniversary party was held on May 24th for Chuck and Debbie Real.

In the year 2014, the longtime TPPA Director and his lovely wife will celebrate 40 years of Devotion to each other with their marriage, 50 years of Dedicated passion raising hogs, and 30 years of Developing youth in coaching 4-H livestock judging teams! In honor of their lifetime of dedication to serving others, the Real children came up with the idea of an endowed annual scholarship through the Texas 4-H Foundation in their name to pay tribute to Chuck and Debbie in a special way. Their goal was to raise $25,000 to ensure the perpetuity of this award, which was accomplished by many in the community and the state offering their support.

TOP 10

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2014 Texas Pork Industry Conference & Youth Symposium July 11-12, 2014

The YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center Kerrville, Texas

The Texas Pork Industry Conference and Youth Symposium is suited for everyone interested in the pork industry. Adults and youth will engage in a variety of activities throughout the weekend to expand their knowledge and skills, while visiting and meeting other producers and industry leaders from around the state.

FRIDAY, JULY 11TH ~ INDUSTRY CONFERENCE

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m Registration 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. PQA Plus Training 6:00 p.m. Friday Night Family Cook-out (Location TBD)

SATURDAY, JULY 12TH ~ INDUSTRY CONFERENCE

Registration Welcome Round 1 Breakouts (Pick 2 of the 3; Sessions are 45 minutes each) * Advertising & Marketing through Multi-Media Outlets * Pork Cuts: DiďŹ&#x20AC;erences in Value, Cooking Methods, Nomenclature * Farrowing House Issues - Troubleshooting 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Trade Show Break 10:30 a.m. Round 2 Breakouts (Pick 2 of the 3; Sessions are 45 minutes each) * Online Sales: The Ins & Outs - Producer requirements; What goes into one * Pork Cooking Demostration * National Swine Reproduction Guide: How to Utilize 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch & Trade Show Break 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. TPPA Annual Membership Meeting; Pork Act Delegate Election Honorary Members Award Presentation 1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. National Pork Board Update; PEDv Updates, Biosecurity, TVMDL Testing 3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Youth Contest Awards Presentation 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Veterinarian Discussion, Q&A 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Trade Show Break 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Hospitality and Fun Auction 7:30 p.m. Awards Banquet

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m 8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. 8:15 a.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 12TH ~ YOUTH SYMPOSIUM 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m 8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. 8:10 a.m 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m.

Registration Welcome Swine Skill-a-thon Clinic and Contest Lunch & Trade Show Break Showmanship Video Clinic Youth Contest Awards Presentation Career Development Activity

Trade Show, Shrimp Boil & Reception, FUN Auction and Awards Banquet! Visit www.texaspork.org for more information and registration.

Additional Information Conference Sponsorship

Sponsorships Includes: • Company logo on TPPA website and conference materials • One (1) Complimentary Trade Show Exhibit Booth • Two (2) Complimentary Conference Registrations including tickets to • Friday Night Family Cook-out • Lunch on Saturday • Hospitality • Fun Auction • Awards Dinner

Trade Show Exhibit Booth Trade Show Booth Includes: • 10’ x 10’ Trade Show Exhibit space

(Open Friday 1 pm - 6 pm and Saturday 7 am - 7:30 pm)

• Two (2) Complimentary Conference Registrations including tickets to • Friday Night Family Cook-out • Lunch on Saturday • Hospitality • Fun Auction • Awards Dinner

Thanks for the support from our Conference Sponsors:

Host Hotel & Event Location YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center 2033 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 830-257-4440

Make sure to ask for the Texas Pork Producers Association special room rate.

Room Block Deadline: June 20, 2014

Notice of Annual Meeting The Texas Pork Producers Association Annual Meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014 at the YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center 2033 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, TX 78028. The meeting is open to all pork producers and held in conjunction with the Annual Texas Pork Industry Conference and Youth Symposium.

‘Semen’ Silent Auction and Live ‘FUN’ Auction

If you would like to donate doses of boar semen to the Semen Silent Auction or items to the FUN Auction, please contact Cassidy Smith.

Public Notice

by the Texas Pork Producers Association & the National Pork Board

The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2015 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 in conjunction with the Texas Pork Producers Association’s Annual Membership meeting at the YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center 2033 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, TX 78028. All Texas pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer who is 18 years or older, a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due, may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and Checkoff deducted. For more information, contact Texas Pork Producers Association, P.O. Box 10168, Austin, TX 78766, and Telephone (512) 453-0615.

Registration Form

2014 Texas Pork Industry Conference & Youth Symposium July 11 - 12, 2014 Kerrville, TX

Registration:

Please mail or register online before July 1st. On-site registration will be available.

ADULT - $35 YOUTH - $20

How To Register:

MAIL TO: Texas Pork Producers Association P.O. Box 10168 Austin, TX 78766 Please mail before July 1st.

Registration for the Conference and Youth Symposium will include: • Participation in all program activities and Trade Show Exhibits • Friday Night Family Cook-Out • Saturday Lunch • Awards Banquet - Saturday night • Silent and Fun Auction Activities • Entered in door prize drawings

Hotel & Event Location:

ONLINE: www.texaspork.org Registration closes July 1st.

ON-SITE: Registration will be available on-site.

YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center 2033 Sidney Baker Kerrville, TX 78028 1-830-257-4440 Ask for Texas Pork Producers Association’s Special Room Rate Room Block Deadline: June 20, 2014

Name(s) of Attendees:

Adult / Youth

Total Adult Attendees Total Youth Attendees

X $35 = X $20 = TOTAL DUE =

Please indicate the number of attendees for each event: Friday Conference Activities Saturday Conference Events Awards Banquet (Saturday Night) Name: Address: City: E-mail:

Friday Night Family Cook-Out Saturday Lunch Company:

State: Phone:

Zip: Fax:

Payment Options: Online

Check Enclosed/ Forthcoming (Payable to TPPA) Please return form to TPPA by JULY 1, 2014 P.O. Box 10168, Austin, Texas 78766 * 800-501-7675 * csmith@texaspork.org

Pay on-site

Texas Pork Producers Association P.O. Box 10168 Austin, Texas 78766

P QA PLU S® P RO O F P O S IT IVE . Today, customers want proof that the products they buy are produced responsibly. It’s more important than ever that Iowa pork producers uphold the principles and practices advanced by the We Care initiative to do things right. Your full participation in Pork Quality Assurance ® Plus (PQA Plus®) education and site assessment proves that you’re committed to food safety and animal well-being and transparent in how you care for your animals, your employees and the environment. That’s positive for you and your customers. Get started on PQA Plus today. Call 800-456-7675. Funded by America’s Pork Checkoff Program and the Texas Pork Producers Association.