Author: rwilliams

Since 1942, Pipestone Veterinary Services (PVS) has provided quality care to animals large and small. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2017, we’d like to highlight some of the rich history of the practice that has called home to the Pipestone community for so many years. The Pipestone Vet Clinic was founded in 1942…

Scours can be a difficult and chronic issue within a farrowing barn. Not only does it affect the health and growth of the pig, but it also can be detrimental to people who work in the farms daily. For this article, I will not be talking about treatments for scours, but rather potential areas of…

By: Dr. Carissa Odland Emma, my 4-year-old daughter, recently had what I suspected was an ear infection – then she started having drainage out of the ear, which has been typical for her.  Ear infections are typically caused by viruses so I did not think it was necessary to take her to the doctor.  We…

Award season is upon us, recently South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa held their Pork Congress events.  Many were nominated by their neighbors and peers for their dedication, innovation and efficiency at their farm and with the pork industry. Throughout all three states, we have some customers and employees we would like to spotlight. Marti Knobloch-…

(CLIVE, Iowa) — A veterinarian for a Minnesota-based pork production company has been named a 2016 Master Pork Partner by the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. IPPA recognized Dr. Bryan Myers of Independence in Buchanan County at the Iowa Pork Congress Banquet in Des Moines last night. He received…

Spencer Wayne, PhD, DVM – Pipestone Veterinary Services 1.      Don’t Cut the Wrong Corners When things get tight, a logical first step is to start trimming costs, but be careful when doing this.  Things were put in place for a reason.  Make sure that the reason is still attended to.  Here are some examples regarding…

PIPESTONE teamed up with local grocery stores this holiday season on a project called “Give a Helping Ham” with one goal in mind: Help Fight Hunger.  One out of every five kids in America struggle with hunger.   “There are an astounding number of families in our community that are food insecure.  Give a Helping Ham…

PART Antibiotic Use & Antibiotic Resistance (amongst animal welfare and gestation stalls) is one of the top concerns that consumers have today with how their food is raised.  This concern has become evident with the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) recently going into effect, which discontinued the sub-therapeutic (growth promotion) use of medically important antibiotics and…

    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.

Pipestone’s swine specialists are truly experts in their field, which is why producers across the Midwest trust them with questions on their swine products.  We’ve compiled a list of their Top 7 Frequently Asked Swine Questions Answered!  Get all the quick answers below and save yourself a call in the future.  Although we’d love to…

Turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, three options of pie: the holidays are here, and many of us will be sitting at a table with too many options to fit on our plate.  Unfortunately, there are many families in our own communities that are food insecure.  A startling fact: one out of every five kids in America…

A new wean-to-finish barn built near Edgerton, Minnesota, has become an important tool for Pipestone Grow Finish (PGF) in providing information and services to their Nutrition customers. The barn is a 2,400 head wean-to-finish research barn will allow Pipestone to conduct nutrition research with nursery and finisher pigs.  It is the fifth research barn built…

Please make plans to attend the Pork Congress in your state. SD Pork Congress January 11 & 12, 2017 Ramkota Exhibit Hall in Sioux Falls, SD http://www.sdppc.org/events-4/pork-congress/ MN Pork Congress January 17 & 18, 2017 Minneapolis Convention Center https://www.mnporkcongress.com/ Iowa Pork Congress January 25 & 26, 2016 Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, IA http://www.iowaporkcongress.org/ Wisconsin…

It’s no secret that trailers can act as a means of virus transport, moving it from one barn to another.  With PRRSv virus, and especially when PEDv hit hard in 2013, Pipestone has put enormous focus on our livestock trailer sanitation protocol.  Historically Pipestone chose to use Synergize as a disinfectant when washing trailers.  The…

As the weather cools, the pork industry increases its vigilance against PRRSv. Over the past 20 years, PRRS has emerged as the most economically important disease for U.S. pork producers. Dennis Wiebbecke has been on the front line of the fight against PRRS for the past three years.  As the Filter Compliance Technician at Pipestone…

By: Dr. Scott VanderPoel In the past couple months; there have been 13 confirmed cases of vesicular disease associated with Seneca Valley virus in the swine industry. This disease has been identified in both commercial and show pig operations in Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois and Minnesota. Vesicular disease is a broad term used to cover…

Pipestone Veterinary Services employees gathered Friday afternoon to properly season the ribs for the Rib Feed at the Pipestone County Fair on Saturday, August 8th.  It is an event that Pipestone Veterinary Services founded several years ago, and has been happy to continue the tradition ever since.  All proceeds raised are donated to a different…

So far, 2015 has proven to be a fairly mild year for PEDv infection compared to the devastation that hit in 2014.  Nonetheless, it is a concerning virus for pork producers and continued focus for Pipestone Applied Research (PAR).  In 2014, PAR proved that contaminated feed could serve as a vehicle for PEDv transmission and…

The Sioux Empire Fair celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014, but it was a new exhibit — and the newborn animals inside it — that caught the attention of thousands of fairgoers. The Pipestone Discovery Barn opened its doors during the 2014 fair to share with visitors the story of animal agriculture and the commitment…

County fair, and livestock show season is underway.  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 on and visit hog farms.  Both PRRSV and…

Each year, the Pipestone Management awards a scholarship to a graduating high school senior who has been active in FFA and plans to pursue a career in agriculture.  This year’s winner plans to bring back the knowledge and experiences he gains from college to help his family’s farm and business continue to grow for generations…

There is no doubt that Avian Influenza (AI) has been a devastation to the poultry industry, just as PEDv was to the swine industry eighteen months ago.  The mortality rate for AI stands at 100%, and as of May 26th, 2015, 41,034,973 birds have died or been euthanized as a result.  Avian Influenza is a…

In her six years at the Pipestone Management, Jenna Hauglid has found not only a challenging and rewarding career, but also a path to future opportunities within the organization. Jenna grew up on her family’s farm northwest of Dell Rapids, South Dakota.  They primarily raise cattle and crops and have horses.  Over the years, they…

Dr. Cameron Schmitt Cutting corners in any aspect of life/work typically has implications at later points in time.  Similarly in pork production, we see “planting disease” in the spring and  “harvesting disease” in the fall.  As your schedule gets tight this planting season, here are some tips to help you be more time efficient in…

By: Brian Stevens, President of Big Stone Marketing We have concluded our first quarter of 2015 and I have to say there wasn’t much to write home about as it relates to our pork markets.  Experts predicted that we’d see pork supplies grow 1%, but the reality was our supplies soared and caught everyone off…

When it comes to charity at Pipestone, we believe in giving the “three T’s”; time, talent, and treasure.  For a business, writing a check can be easy, but the time and talent are harder to give.  This past month, Pipestone employees brought their time and talent to the Banquet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The…

Congratulations are in order to Aden Kruse, son of Steve and Dena Kruse, who was awarded Little Sir Hamalot at the Delaware County Pork producer banquet.  For years, the Delaware County Pork producers have chosen a boy as “Little Sir Hamalot” and a girl “PigTails” to help get kids involved in pork production and education. …

The Pipestone Discovery Barn has received a 3rd place Agricultural Award of Excellence from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The Award was received for “Overall Agricultural Program for the Non-agricultural Fair-going Public.” There are a total of 14 Agriculture Award categories, each divided into 5 divisions by attendance,…

By: Casey Neill This past month, Pipestone Grow Finish held a Nutrition conference.  Several nutritionists  including Dr. Joel DeRouchey from Kansas State University, Dr. John Patience from Iowa State Universtiy, Dr. James Usry from Mironutrients, and Dr. Charles Stark from Kansas State University Department of Grain Science  presented.  Grow Finish clients were excited to spend…

For a northwest Iowa pork producer, an investment in the Pipestone Management provided an opportunity for his operation to sustainably grow today, and presents a roadmap for the next generation to get started in livestock production. Mike Ver Steeg is a third generation Iowa farmer, and the second generation to raise crops and pigs on…

By: Hal Schmidt Farming is a business, and part of any business is analyzing when and if you should expand your operation.  This is a question that is constantly circling in the back of farmers minds – to buy that piece of land or not, to expand your herd or wait until markets are better. …

By: Marty Rost The average person won’t think twice about what lies beneath a hog barn, but anyone in agriculture see’s dollar signs.  As we all know, manure is a valuable fertilizer for crops.  In fact, many hog producers got into the business for that very reason – to save money on commercial fertilizers.  Although…

Like many students at the end of their college career, Monte Hickman was in search of a good career opportunity.  Monte grew up on the outskirts of Orange City, IA on an acreage, and attended South Dakota State University for a major in Animal Science with a production emphasis.  Monte discovered Pipestone Management at a…

By: Dr. Spencer Wayne I have been practicing swine veterinary medicine at Pipestone Veterinary Services for ten years, and one of the most frequently asked questions from hog producers is this:  “What I can do today to improve my barn and make more money?”  And you can’t blame them for asking!  Here, I’ve written about…

Congratulations are in order for Jim Olson as he was recognized as one of 2014’s South Dakota Master Pork Award recipients.  He was recognized at the South Dakota Pork Producers Banquet held in conjunction with the South Dakota Pork Congress on January 14th in Sioux Falls.  After sorting through numerous nominations, on farm visits and…

It’s the beginning of a new year, and everyone is looking over their 2014 records and planning how to have an even better, more profitable 2015.  In today’s world of business, people use record keeping for everything.  In fact, we may go as far as combing through our online bank statement looking for that accidental…

  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…