OCTOBER IS PORK MONTH!!
Swine Ventilation Transition to Cool Weather
Harvey Williams, Field Marketer
As we transition from the heat of the summer it is time to start preparing barn ventilation for the fall and winter weather. With the ever-changing Iowa weather, it is important to have barns prepared for warm days and cool nights. Proper ventilation ensures a good start for new pigs and prevents respiratory issues throughout the whole turn. With harvest in full swing, it always helps to prevent extra work in the barns so you can focus more time in the fields.
Swings in the temperature are common during the fall time so barns must be set up for different conditions. Having all fans and curtains working properly ensures they can adjust as necessary. You don’t want to jump the gun by covering shutters or tightening up curtains too early in the season. During the high heat of summer, curtains are constantly down and fans are running full blast. Make sure the barn is also ready to run in minimum ventilation when temperatures are lower. Clean dust and debris off pit fan shutters so louvers can move freely. Replace missing/broken louvers in wall fans as well. Fix gaps in curtains and patch holes where possible to prevent drafts.
At this point of the year, heaters haven’t been running very often and might need some maintenance. Cycle through each heater using the controller to ensure they run properly and run hot. Using a blower to remove dust on the inner components can help the heater run at full potential. Check propane tank levels in case they haven’t been monitored through the summer.
The transition from summer to fall weather can be hard on both the barns and pigs. Don’t rush to tighten up the barn in preparation for extreme colds coming in winter. Check the coming weather and make ventilation changes weekly or even daily. Feel free to reach out to Spencer Ag Center with any barn or ventilation-related questions. Also, use this fall/winter ventilation checklist to be confident your barn is ready for the next season.
INTERESTED IN CURRENT FALL REBATE PROGRAMS?
Talk to your local field marketer or call the office to see if you are eligible for Norbrook’s “Build a Rebate” Program or Merck Animal Health’s “2024 One Merck Producer” Rebate Program. You may be eligible for money back by submitting your Spencer Ag purchases!
Check out the following links to Rebate Programs, you may be eligible for as a producer.
In Need of a New Pit Treatment?
We carry Healthy Farms by Bioverse's all-natural pit treatments. These products are designed to go to the bottom of the pit and work from the bottom up. Most pit products get dumped onto the surface and may not be able to break through the crusted barrier or liquefy solids. But not Healthy Farms! With the AGRASPHERE, you can open up the pump-out cover and toss the spheres with the product into the pit. Or try the AGRASLAT which are flat enough to slide through the slats.
The 10-Year Perspective
Spencer Ag Center has had its monthly newsletters for the entirety of its time as a business. This gives us years of material to reflect upon seasonality, market fluctuations, and recent events We wanted to share our Pork Month Fast Facts from October 2014, 10 years ago to see where we are as an industry today in 2024.
2014: Iowa is the number one pork-producing state in the nation.
2024: Iowa farmers produce about 1/3 of the nation’s pork, in addition to being number one in the nation in pork, corn, and soybeans. Pigs add value to the corn and soybeans produced here, consuming one of every 5 acres grown in Iowa.
We continue to be the #1 state for:
· All Hogs and Pigs Inventory
· All Hogs and Pig's Value
· Commercial Hog Slaughter
· Pig Crop
· Pork Export Value
· Animal Products Export Value
2014: The Iowa Pork industry has an annual economic impact of nearly $12 billion on the Iowa economy—approximately 5% of the state’s economic impact. Pork Production generates 63,000 jobs for Iowans and provides nearly $2 billion each year in payroll income.
2024: Iowa’s pork industry now produces more than 147,000 Iowa jobs are connected to the pork industry in our state, generating $6.8 billion in household income.
Original Source in 2014: Pork Facts
2024 Sources: Iowa Pork Producers Association and the USDA
"Iowa Agricultural Economic Contribution Study"
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