Year: 2014

  Premises ID Number (PIN) ear tags… In light of new disease that has entered the U.S. in the last 24 months, everyone in the swine industry is more aware of what “disease traceability” means and how new diseases can impact our industry.  A new requirement by the packers & processors in the U.S. has…

    Twice a year, Pipestone Management employees gather to review success from the past six months, look at improvements for the upcoming year, and simply enjoy each other’s company.  With the business continually growing, it becomes more and more difficult to host all employees in one location – especially when they are spread out…

  Heading into the winter months, livestock transportation can quickly become a nightmare.  For your pigs, dropping temps can mean decreased immune systems and increased susceptibility to viruses.  During the winter, transportation is one of many touch points where proper management practices can make a big difference when it comes time to market. In order…

The temperature keeps dropping, and that means PRRSv, and now PEDv, season has arrived.  It can be painful to remember how hard PEDv hit the U.S. swine industry last Fall and Winter.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that some herd immunity will help lessen the blow this year, but regardless I cannot stress how…

As the industry continues to grow so does our need for talent, the Pipestone Management has designed our internship program to be one of many things, first off is informative. Learning more about the industry and what happens within the walls of a sow farm is far more extensive than what the naked eye may…

October is National Pork Month.  Why October?  Because it marked the time of year when pigs were traditionally marketed.  National Pork Month serves as a reminder for us to thank pork producers for their hard work and dedication to providing our families with safe and nutritious meals.  Celebrate National Pork Month with one of these…

On September 3rd, 2014, family, friends, and co-workers of Erin McCoy, a member of the Pipestone Grow Finish team, gathered to celebrate her most recent accomplishment – although she didn’t know it yet.  She walked into what seemed like another lunch at the Pipestone clinic to be greeted by a loud “Surprise!” In May, Zoetis…

At Pipestone, we are committed to the pork industry in all aspects, and that commitment doesn’t get left at the office.  We take our passion for promoting the pork industry to our homes, friends, and communities.  In 2014, Pipestone County was represented by three young individuals that are sons or daughters of Pipestone Management employees…

Performing a mixer efficiency test should always be on the radar screen; however, it can be easily overlooked. Properly mixing the ingredients is a must do to provide the proper nutrition in every mouth full of feed. Kansas State University performed a nursery trial evaluating different mixing time.  As you can see below, diets that…

This summer, the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD celebrated their 75th year, “Diamond Jubilee”, of providing summer fun to the community.  And what better way to celebrate this landmark year than the grand opening of a building dedicated to educating the Sioux Empire area on modern crop and livestock production. “The Pipestone Discovery…

Sustainability has become a popular term in recent years to define everything from protecting the environment to ensuring the viability of family farms over multiple generations to many other facets of modern agriculture. For the Braun family of LeSueur, Minnesota, sustainability isn’t a new concept.  They’ve been growing and managing their farm with the future…

It is no secret to anyone in the pork industry that the combination of high domestic and international demand, a shortage of pig inventory due to the PED virus outbreak, and lower feed costs are presenting strong profit opportunities for pork producers.    These opportunities are driving many producers to also take their management practices to…

Pipestone Management is a business full of opportunity and growth, and there is no better example of this than Oscar Larios.  Oscar was recently hired as Pipestone’s Training Manager in Human Resources, but he started with Pipestone Management back in 2009. Oscar Larios grew up in Denver, Colorado, and he and his family moved to…

A new center to educate children, families and other visitors has been a huge success at this years Sioux Empire Fair. The “Pipestone Discovery Barn” gave visitors a chance to bottle-feed a calf, watch baby chickens hatch and a sow give birth. For more information on the Pipestone Discovery Barn, please visit the Tri State…

Cooking tonight?   There are some great recipes available on the National Pork Board’s  www.porkbeinspired.com website. Enjoy dinner with family and friends serving pork.

Pipestone Veterinary Services has historically proven its commitment to providing its clients with the best services and products available, and the future will prove no differently.  Pipestone Veterinary Services (PVS) is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Scott VanderPoel to their team of professional and experienced veterinarians.  Dr. VanderPoel grew up just south of…

Pipestone Veterinary Services of Independence is excited to be adding a new veterinarian to their team.  Dr. Cara Haden grew up on swine farm in Holland, Michigan and was very involved in her family’s operation from a young age.   “Growing up in the swine industry, I knew I wanted to remain involved as I furthered…

“A consistent supply of healthy pigs.” For Iowa pork producer Ben Reck and his family, that was the driving factor in becoming partners in the Pipestone Management.  And, for 10 years, it has been a successful partnership that has allowed the Recks to focus investments and upgrades to other parts of their operation. Ben and…

As the PRRS’ year is coming to an end, Pipestone’s Dr. Joel Nerem is crossing his fingers.  “We’ve experienced what I consider to be a very successful year in minimizing PRRS outbreaks.”  With everyone’s attention drawn to the latest PEDv epidemic, PRRS has been out of the spotlight.  Regardless, PRRS can be a catastrophe for…

In the year since Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) was confirmed in the United States, pork producers, veterinarians, researchers and many others have been working diligently to find ways to prevent the virus from entering herds, especially sow herds. While PEDv has been reported in other countries over the years, there had never been a…

Joel Overskei and his family own and operate two finishing barns near Nunda, SD, which is about 20 miles southwest of Brookings. From these barns, they send around 15,000 head of hogs to market annually. The Overskeis get all of their pigs from the Fox Run sow barn near Parker, which was completed and began…

When I wrote an article for Swine Line late last fall, we had just finished testing our transportation protocols at South Dakota State University (SDSU), and these protocols proved to be effective against PED virus. We were also in the process of testing our 3M filters to see if they would be successful in stopping…

Dr. Adam Schelkopf Spring is usually a very positive time in the swine industry—a time when Midwestern producers dewinterize and thaw out their barns after being in a deep freeze for several months. It’s also an important time to verify that a few key components of our barns function properly in order to provide the…

By Marty Rost Many of our system and shareholder barns pump their manure pits in the spring, but pumping safety is not always top of mind. That’s because spring is a busy time, and we have lots of other things to think about. But, the welfare of our employees and our animals may be jeopardized…

Located at Kalona, IA, Claude Greiner not only owns shares in barns managed by the Ottumwa Veterinary Clinic—he built them. Raised on a farm near Keota, IA, Claude met Dr. Steve Menke when the veterinarian (then practicing in Richland, IA) visited the farm and diagnosed his first case of PGE. Claude was 16 at the…

Sylvia was recently recognized for her dedication in the pork industry, naming her the 2014 Minnesota Pork Industry’s Pork Promoter of the Year. Congratulations Sylvia! To read more about this award check out the following link at Minnesota Pork.

Mark Your Calendars! Iowa Pork Congress January 28 and 29, 2015, Iowa Events Center Des Moines, Iowa.  Please visit www.iowaporkcongress.org for a schedule of events. Minnesota Pork Congress January 21 and 22, 2015, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN.  For more details please visit www.mnpork.com Missouri Pork Expo February 10 and 11, 2015, Holiday Inn Executive…