Author: kyramaster

Succession planning is one of the most crucial and challenging aspects of managing a family farm. It’s not just about passing down land and equipment—it’s about ensuring the farm’s future success and preserving your family’s legacy for generations to come. Jim Marzolf, Executive Vice President of Pipestone Business, shares key insights on navigating the challenges…

After 21 years with Frito-Lay, Dean Lueck made a career shift and joined Pipestone Management as the Truck Wash Manager over six years ago. Today, he leads a 12-person team responsible for washing and disinfecting 85 to 90 livestock trailers each week, a critical step in maintaining biosecurity and preventing the spread of disease between…

For nearly 15 years, Kelly Kortleever has played a key role at Pipestone Veterinary Services as a Health Technician, focusing on auditing biosecurity, safety, and animal welfare at sow farms. “Health is one of the most important drivers of success for farmers, and it starts with the health of their sow herd and wean pigs,”…

Mandy Matthiesen has been with PIPESTONE for 11 years, rising through the ranks to now manage the Information Bureau. She leads a six-person team responsible for ensuring accurate data reporting across the company’s sow farms. “Good data creates good decisions,” Mandy emphasizes, explaining that her team validates the information entered by farms to ensure it…

For Tyler Clayton, Order Fulfillment Lead at Pipestone Veterinary Services, supporting farmers begins with efficient logistics. Having been with the company for six years, Tyler leads a 10-person team responsible for ensuring that the medications and supplies prescribed by PIPESTONE’s veterinarians reach farms promptly and cost-effectively. “We aim for over 99.2% accuracy on all orders,…

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, and no it’s not Christmas, it’s harvest time! Corn stalks flying and bean stubble being made is a farmer’s dream and at the forefront of everyone’s mind. However, we can’t forget about our 4-legged friends in our barns. The importance of keeping the right ration…

As pig farmers, we know that every stage of production, from breeding to finishing, is crucial. But even when we’ve done everything right up until the last few weeks, there’s still a lot of money on the table when it comes to marketing your pigs. This final phase—selling your pigs at the right weight and…

Preparing for the arrival of new wean pigs to your barn is an exciting but important process that requires careful planning. Here’s a step-by-step checklist to ensure everything is ready: Pre-Arrival Checklist Communication Confirm Arrival Details: Coordinate with the sow farm to confirm the arrival date and the number of pigs expected. Vaccination and Medication:…

As you all know, manure has many benefits that help improve soil fertility. Aside from the ever-popular discussions about Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (NPK), manure provides many other micronutrients such as Sulfur, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc. Manure from a farrow to wean operation could generally have $10-20/acre in value from these…

Effective ventilation is one of the most critical factors in maintaining a healthy and productive swine operation. It influences air quality, temperature control, and the overall environment for the pigs. However, achieving the right balance in ventilation comes with its challenges, especially when factoring in barn design, fan efficiency, and climate conditions. Precision in managing…

Running a family farm comes with unique challenges, especially when managing employee relationships. Whether your team consists of family members or outside hires, selecting the right person within your operation to manage employees is crucial. They do not need know every detail about the operation; in fact, they might not even have farm experience. What…

Ordering feed for your pigs is an essential responsibility on the farm. It may seem straightforward, but it plays a critical role in both the performance of your animals and their overall health. Incorrect feed orders can not only disrupt feeding schedules but also pose serious biosecurity risks. Here are a few tips and tricks…

Do you think you can impact the health of your piglets in the nursery by what the sow is eating at the sow farm? We had the very same question and set out to conduct a research trial to test the idea. If we could improve the health and performance of the pigs in the…

Cathy Bryan is a key figure at PIPESTONE, exemplifying the core value of teamwork through her 26 years of dedicated service as Lab Manager. Her role is crucial in ensuring precision and reliability in the lab’s operations, directly supporting the farmers that PIPESTONE serves.   A path to PIPESTONE Cathy’s career began with a degree…

PIPESTONE proudly collaborates with over 30 owner-operators across 11 different states, many of whom oversee additional drivers under their authority. This cohesive and dedicated team—from logistics coordinators to truckers and high bio-secure trailer washers—each played a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient transport of over 8 million wean pigs in 2023. We compiled…

Warm, humid weather can bring on more intestinal issues in recently weaned pigs. The causes of looseness are many and include viruses (rotavirus and PEDV most commonly), bacteria (hemolytic E. coli and salmonella), parasites (coccidia), and environmental and nutritional factors. Today we will focus on best practices to minimize the chances of hemolytic E. coli…

Due to the abundant rainfall this Spring, Mother Nature has created optimal conditions for mosquito breeding. Adult mosquitoes, capable of traveling up to 3 miles from their breeding grounds, pose a threat by biting and potentially transmitting viruses. Additionally, mosquito bites on animals can leave blemishes on the hide of animals posing challenges at harvest…

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to attend the final Advancing Animal Welfare Together Symposium that was hosted by the late Dr. Angela Baysinger. During one of the sessions, we were asked to think about challenges that at one point the swine industry felt were impossible to overcome, but that we later accomplished. My…

Ensuring the health and safety of our pigs is a top priority for every swine producer. While we often focus on biosecurity measures at sow farms, it’s just as crucial to implement strong protocols in wean-to-finish barns. What do we know Disease doesn’t discriminate. We need to maintain our biosecurity mindset throughout the production cycle…

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…

Ileitis is a significant concern in pig production, presenting both health challenges for the animals and economic ramifications for producers. This disease, caused by the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis, affects pigs worldwide and is particularly prevalent during warm weather months when feed intake can fluctuate. Let’s break down what you need to know about ileitis: How…

I like to give my dad a hard time that all he had to do was farm the ground and feed the livestock to make a sustainable profit. I say this jokingly, but he recognizes that there is some truth in that statement. He sees the farm faced with more and more business decisions every…

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…

As someone who thrives on outdoor adventures, I eagerly anticipate the warmer weather and the lively buzz that spring brings. But it’s also the time when our barn ventilation systems kick into high gear. With temperatures climbing during the day and dipping at night, it’s crucial that our ventilation systems keep pace with the changing…

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…

At the recent American Association of Swine Veterinarians conference, attendees were treated to an enlightening presentation by Dr. Joel Nerem, Veterinarian at Pipestone Veterinary Services. Dr. Nerem, delivering the prestigious Howard Dunne Lecture, provided invaluable insights into the future of swine veterinary medicine under the theme, “Next Generation Swine Veterinarians: Who are we and where…

Feed costs make up 60% to 70% of production expenses, making it crucial for producers to monitor market trends as they work to enhance the profitability and sustainability of their pig farms. Recent trends indicate a notable decline in feed prices, particularly in essential ingredients like corn and soybean meal. This decline presents an opportunity…

In the realm of pig farming, maximizing genetic potential is a constant pursuit. Despite common perceptions that pigs are the “easy part” compared to human challenges, the reality is that ensuring optimal conditions for pigs involves overcoming various hurdles. Among the challenges present at your farm, which has the greatest potential to impede performance?  …

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…

Ingris Rivas was recently named a 2023 Master Pork Producer at the 55th Annual South Dakota Pork Congress in January. Ingris’s journey began in August 2017, marking the start of her career in swine production at PIPESTONE. South Dakota Master Pork Producers are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state’s swine industry. Starting as…

A standout star at PIPESTONE is Seth Holmstrom, who serves as the Manager for Elm Valley Farms. Starting as a Pipestone Emerging Leader in November 2018, Seth honed his skills at Big Sioux before landing the role of Site Manager at Elm Valley in March 2019. Since then, he’s been leading with passion, dedication, and…

It’s that time of year again. . . time for 2024 predictions. For the U.S. swine industry (and most of the world), 2023 has been a year most pig farmers would like to forget – not because disease issues were worse than normal, but because market prices have not been favorable. The short-term outlook is…

Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork – these are the core values of PIPESTONE. They serve as a road map for all employees in pursuing the company mission of Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow. The David Neuberger II Core Values Award is an honor bestowed upon individuals who exemplify the Core Values…

Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information. However, without proper data analysis, you may draw the wrong conclusion. Without perspective, you may think things are going really poorly, when in reality, they are not; or the reverse may be true. You need both…

Biosecurity is a word we hear often in swine production but what does it truly mean? When I think about an how to explain this topic to a feed mill, I tend to use the following: Biosecurity is a means to create practical and science-based methods to reduce the likelihood of viruses and bacteria entering…

A commercial sow farm has two options when it comes to replacement gilts, the first is to raise them internally, and the second is to purchase them from another site or company. Producing replacements internally requires a very broad and intensive management style to effectively run two different populations within one farm. The other challenge…

Ben Franklin is credited with saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The proverb holds true today and is particularly relatable for pork producers. A disease event has the protentional to increase your production costs, reduce your production efficiency and increase your lost opportunity in the wean-to-finish phase of production. At…

Disease does not stop at the sow farm; biosecurity protocols are beneficial in protecting our pigs when implemented in wean-to-finish sites. A helpful strategy to apply biosecurity is to remember the 5 P’s: Pigs, People, Products, Property, and Pests. Dr. Rachel Stika Jensen, Veterinarian at Pipestone Veterinary Services, recommends the following products to enhance your…

Hemolytic Escherichia Coli (E. coli) is a challenging pathogen due to its high morbidity and high mortality in weaned pigs. It causes severe diarrhea and sudden death. Our tools to control and reduce hemolytic E. coli are limited and unfortunately becoming less effective due to antimicrobial resistance. Acidification of drinking water for swine has been…

Unfortunately, summer is over and the fall season is upon us, followed soon by winter. From a disease management perspective, it is also the season when major swine pathogens get a break from the sun and heat. Typically, as barns start to close up and we enter minimum ventilation rates overnight, respiratory disease is not…

A fairly biosecure way to enjoy your local fairs: Everyone at the fair has a responsibility to protect pig health. Going to fairs, or anywhere else that has pigs from a different source, creates risk for your farm. There are easy and effective steps you can take to mitigate those risks. As producers, it’s easy…

What is a “Business Strategy” or a “Strategic Plan” for my business? It may be best to start with what is “not” strategy. Strategy is not operational best practices. Strategy is not a forecast. Strategy is not simply a plan to make more money this year. Business strategy is a long-term plan of action that…

Maurer Farms attribute increased performance to FarmTeam. In rural southwestern Minnesota, Preston Maurer works alongside his dad, Rick, on their family farm near Morgan. “We raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs – finishing approximately 22,000 head each year, plus we do tiling on the side,” said Preston. With his diversified family farm in mind, Preston…

Our vet team is frequently asked, “What’s new at PIPESTONE?” This often elicits a casual response of “Oh, not much.” But, as I sat down to write my CVO commentary it occurred to me that there has been a lot happening at PIPESTONE that we’d like to share. Here is a brief list of updates…

One distinct memory I have growing up was riding along with my Dad (before car seats) in the feed truck when he worked as a delivery driver and ultimately feed salesman for Wayne Feeds in Ireton, IA. He would stop at a gas station and let me pick out a jelly-filled long john or a…

Sustainability is a concept that has become increasingly important to large companies and national governments. However, most people don’t realize that sustainable practices can help you conserve resources and reduce waste at home as well. As we enter Spring, there are many activities that fit into sustainable living that would not only be environmentally beneficial…

A profitable pork enterprise is the goal of every pork producer.  There are many considerations when thinking of profitability in the pork production sector.  One of the most critical is that of Risk Management. The main idea behind risk management is the desire to transfer the risk that a producer has in their hog inventory…

What does disease cost?  It ultimately depends on what disease (or diseases) your pig farm is challenged with – but disease has a cost and it can be measured in dollars and cents.  Dr. Adam Schelkopf described it another way when he talked about the “Health Tax”.  Every pig farmer pays this “tax”.  Some pay…

Time and time again as veterinarians we are asked what our highest priority need is in swine health today.  The answer is simple and unfortunately has not changed for decades now.  PRRS, or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus, continues to be the most detrimental and costly disease that swine producers face in the United…