Author Archives: NSR

Greetings from the sunshine state! It is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce myself to you as the 2012 Field Staff Intern! To be granted the opportunity to serve you, the members of the NSR, is a true gift. My intentions are to bring a unique and valuable skill set to the NSR, which can be utilized in such a way that is profitable for everyone involved.

My story may start off like many other young adults involved in the swine industry, but it’s comes with an interesting twist. Being from California, I’ll be the first one to admit hogs aren’t exactly our state’s number one commodity. Although this may be the situation, that does not make my passion for hogs any less. Growing up on a hog and dairy farm, two things were readily instilled in me – work ethic and a love for agriculture. Those two traits [ … ]

A common thread among those involved in agriculture is the experiences they had growing up and working on the farm. For most, it’s a time in their life when they learn not only the fundamentals of food production, but also the work ethic and responsibility that influence them throughout their lives.

So when the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division proposed revisions that would have changed the face of the family farm last September, it prompted a huge response from the agricultural community. According to Agri-Pulse coverage of the issue, more than 70 agricultural organizations submitted comments in opposition to the changes. The National Farmers Union said parts of the rules needed revision. The American Farm Bureau Federation called the rules an “over-reach” and a threat to the integrity of family farms.

From a review of the proposed rules and DOL news release, it’s not hard to see where [ … ]

The 2012 World Pork Expo is expecting record numbers. We need your assistance to make this event come together. If you are not bringing all the animals you entered, please contact the NSR/NJSA office, the CPS office and ABA office and let the staff know what your entry numbers will be. Thanks! 

Here are some helpful tips for junior and seniors exhibitors: 

1) Please review the WPX health regulations (located on the NSR website and page 73 in the March issue of the Seedstock EDGE). All animals must be tested individually for Pseudorabies, and you must present this test chart along with your certificate of veterinary inspection at the vet station check point.  
2) There is a designated parking area for trailers this year. After unloading your entries, proceed west on Dean Avenue (stoplight), turn left (south) on E. 30th street, travel on 30th over the overpass and at the intersection of Scott and [ … ]

Forty-two  members of the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA), ages 14-21, flocked from 12 states to gather in Modesto, Calif., for the 2012 NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference, “Bacon’ in the Sun,” held May 18-20. Throughout the weekend, youth listened to panels and presentations from industry leaders, toured top-notch facilities and had a blast meeting fellow NJSA members and young swine enthusiasts.  
Beau Williamson and Coty Back of Greater Potential Leadership presented three separate leadership workshops throughout the weekend, helping participants define leadership and set SMART goals to become leaders in the swine industry. 

Bryn Jensson with the National Pork Board gave a presentation on Sending the Message of We Care, educating youth on how to embrace the changes happening in our industry and serve as examples for consumers. 

Youth participants took part in a [ … ]

The first part of this week, the NSR Marketing & Communications team took a road trip to Montezuma, Iowa, to tour our new printing facilities – Sutherland Companies. Dave Sutherland, Sr., and his son, Dave, Jr., will oversee the printing of Seedstock EDGE starting with the June issue.

Along with Katie, Steve and I, we had our summer intern, Taylor Fritsch, along for the trip. After a long afternoon on the road Monday, we stayed at the Amana Colonies in Iowa, where we found abundant support for pork products … including Baconnaise, bacon balm, bacon lollipops and several other “pig” products.

Tuesday morning we made the short jaunt south of I-80 to Montezuma, where we met “The Daves” at Sutherland’s printing facilities. Dave, Sr., gave us a tour of the plant, where we got to see the entire production process behind printing, binding and mailing a magazine. We [ … ]

A group of swine industry personnel from Ukraine recently visited the NSR office as part of the Cochran Fellowship Program. This program is coordinated through the USDA and is meant to provide training in a variety of agriculture fields for countries with developing industries. Dr. Tom Baas and Chad Yoder, both of Iowa State University, served as the U.S. hosts and coordinators for the training program. The training started at Iowa State University and included visits to a number of NSR members’ farms – Waldo Farms, De Witt, Neb.; Cedar Ridge Farms, Red Bud, Ill.; The Maschhoffs, Carlyle, Ill.; and Whiteshire Hamroc, Albion, Ind. The trip wrapped-up with visits to National Swine Registry and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.