Year: 2016

    How do I know if a VFD is needed? VFD’s are required for feed antibiotics that are in the category of being “important” to human medicine.  Your veterinarian and feed mill manager will let you know if a VFD is required. ***A detailed list is provided at the bottom of the page  How long is a VFD valid…

PIPESTONE and local grocery stores are teaming up on a project called “Give a Helping Ham” that will donate pork to food banks.  “There are an astounding number of families in our community that are food insecure.  Give a Helping Ham is a simple way to get the community involved in giving back and providing…

By Dr. Bryan Myers As I begin to write this article, it is 6:00 AM and it is 38 degrees outside and I can’t see my neighbor’s house because of the fog.  Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind is this is a day that PRRS virus thrives in.  According to initial research done…

Barb Becker has a passion for pigs and people! Recently at the Pipestone Management All Farm Employee meeting, she was recognized for just that. Barb was honored with the Pipestone Pioneer award for being one of the first Pipestone team members to forge the path of the Pipestone Management. Barb Becker has worked with pigs…

United Nations  Discuss Antibiotic Resistance – How Will You Respond? By: Dr. Carissa Odland The United Nations met in September in New York, gathering governments from all over the world to debate issues of global importance.  The threat of resistant bacteria was the only topic on the agenda of the all-day “high-level meeting” which was…

Fall is upon us, and with the change of season it’s time to prep our barns for cooler temperatures.  Fall is undoubtedly a busy time of the year with harvest around the corner.  Our fall checklist will ensure all your bases are covered with some tips and tricks along the way. Ventilation ______ All heaters…

Since joining the Pipestone Management two years ago, Robin Gilbertson has learned a lot about the swine industry and gained a new appreciation for pork producers and their commitment to caring for their pigs. Robin started at the company in July 2014 as a swine health communication coordinator working with multiple teams and projects. One of…

Joseph originally grew up in upstate New York with three twin brothers(a twin himself and 13 year old twin brothers) on a 1000 ewe sheep farm. He spent his summers showing pure bred Suffolk sheep at the county and state fairs, while helping taking care of the family farm. Caring for livestock and understanding the…

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Antibiotics”?  The media is crawling with content about antibiotics these days.  For consumers – there is a growing concern about bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and sometimes these concerns are coupled with the use of antibiotics in livestock. At Pipestone, we take these concerns very seriously and…

Some of the most common pests within a hog operation include your common house fly and fruit fly. These pests are not only a risk for transferring diseases, but are also a nuisance to the animals and people that work or reside in these barns. Once these pests are established within your operation it can…

Fair season is around the corner and Pipestone in organizing several Ag Learning Centers throughout our communities.  These learning centers, such as the Pipestone Discovery Barn at the Sioux Empire Fair, offer a great opportunity for farmers to have conversations with consumers about where their food comes from and how we care for animals on…

Last Friday USDA released their Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report which I’ve included along with the Pre-report estimates and so you can see the differences in the far right hand column.  You’ll notice that the actual USDA numbers came in quite a bit higher than the estimates across most of the categories.  This report is…

By: Dr. Emily McDowell Have you ever unloaded a group of pigs that are heat stressed following transportation? How do you manage transportation during months of high heat and humidity to prevent or minimize heat stress and transport losses? Here are a few tips to help your pigs weather summer heat and humidity.  It all…

On May 25th the Kemin Risk Management Team, led by Dr. Mark Bienhoff, hosted the 2017 Swine Forum, at the Iowa FFA Enrichment Center. The successful event provided a platform for interactive, facilitated discussion with respect to fundamental industry biosecurity and risk management concerns.  Attendance at the forum represented leading industry swine production managers, feed…

Pipestone and their employees are always excited to give back to the communities we live and work in.  Here are a few highlights from May: Free Throws for Kids Pipestone held their 2nd annual Free Throws for Kids event.  The free throw competition between Pipestone departments is a fun way to help raise money for…

Have you ever wondered why we give piglets iron?  Who would give the piglet iron if we were not there to provide it?  These are good questions and fortunately ones we have answers to so you can best weigh your options when it comes to iron. Iron is essential for the pig because it allows…

World Pork Expo is here and county fair, and livestock show season is around the corner.  These are great events that celebrate agriculture and our rural communities.  We at Pipestone encourage everyone to attend and support these events. The presence of swine at these events poses a biosecurity risk for all of us that work…

When PEDv hit North America in 2013, it had many in the swine industry scratching their heads wondering how and why?  For any of you that were listening during your high school history classes, history tends to repeat itself.  Dr. Scott Dee with Pipestone Applied Research knew that in order to prevent an infectious disease…

We’ve always been proud of the great group of people working at Pipestone and the farmers we work alongside.  It’s hard not to be with some of the outstanding honors they have received lately! Don Buhl – Siehl Prize Dr. Cameron Schmitt – 40 Under 40 Casey Neill – Early Career Agribusiness Award Jon De Jong…

With temperatures fluctuating this time of year, ventilation can be tricky business.  Here’s some basic guidelines and checklists to keep your pigs healthy and you stress free.                             Fudamentals Curtain Barn 1. Spread fans 1 degree per 10 CFM and max of…

Cameron Schmitt grew up watching his veterinarian father, David Schmitt, treat cows, cats, horses, dogs and any other patients his clients brought to the clinic. That experience inspired him to pursue a career as a veterinarian, but his practice is far different and more specialized than his father’s. An Iowa native, Schmitt earned his DVM and…

Dr Scott Dee received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ 2016 Howard Dunne Memorial Award during the association’s 47th Annual Meeting February 29 in New Orleans, LA.  The award recognizes an AASV member who has made important contributions and provided outstanding service to the association and the swine industry. Dr Dee was born in Rochester,…

The Pipestone Grow Finish team has added a second nutritionist to provide additional resources, research and nutritional services to Pipestone Management shareholders and individual clients.  Jon De Jong joined Pipestone Grow Finish earlier this year and will be working with nutritionist Casey Neill. Jon is a native of Orange City, Iowa, where he grew up…

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (03/16/2016) — An internationally renowned bee expert, the former leader of one of Minnesota’s most diversified dairy companies and an innovative leader in pork production are this year’s recipients of the prestigious Siehl Prize in Agriculture. The prize is awarded annually by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and…

We work in an ever evolving industry.  Evolving with technology, and evolving for the consumer demanding transparency and trust in the food they bring home to their families.  Food Safety has an increasing influence on consumers.  Understandably, they want to trust that their food is safe and was raised responsibly.  Enter PQA, the Common Swine…

Briana Ferguson begins every morning with a big cup of coffee and a whole lot of pigs to care for. Briana starts walking through the barn and making a mental list of what needs to be accomplished for the day. Briana grew up in small town on a hobby farm near Kerkhoven, MN.  Growing up…

The extreme profitability we saw in 2014 is by now a fond and distant memory to most of us.  2016 is experiencing a moderate start, but by most forecasts, it will likely be a year of tightening belts.  Easy to spend money on pigs carrying $30 profit per head…. Harder to spend that money when…

World Pork Expo is a 3 day event being held from 8th June to the 10th June 2016 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. This event showcases products like an opportunity to put your company in front of the largest, most influential collection of pork producers anywhere etc. in the Agriculture &…

Do you need to update your PQA+ & TQA status?   Pipestone is hosting a training session on: February 16, 2016 at 10:00 am PQA+ at 10:00 am followed by TQA training. Please call Jamie Smith for more details or to reserve a spot  at 507-215-3799 or email Jamie  by February 12, 2016.