Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed kpa@kspork.org • www.kspork.org
Volume XXVIII
2601 Farm Bureau Road • Manhattan, KS 66502 • (785) 776-0442
KPA Annual Meeting held in Topeka Three positions on the Kansas Pork Association Executive Board were elected during the KPA Annual Meeting held recently in Topeka. Each position serves a three-year term. Elected were: Tom Frederick, Hugoton, Jennifer Gerety, Seneca; and Jerry Morris, Sedgwick. The 2009 KPA Policy Handbook was adopted at the annual meeting. To review the document please contact the KPA office. The KPA Executive Board elected Ron Suther, Blaine, to his second term as KPA Chairman. Guest during the meeting included Senator Mark Taddiken, Clifton, which spoke to the KPA Executive Board. Senator Taddiken, who serves as the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, provided an update to the group on issues working within his committee. The Board was also able to provide input on issues important to the pork industry. Chris Novak, CEO of the National Pork Board, provided the group with his insights into future issues the pork industry will be facing. Novak also talked about the work being done by the Pork Board to meet those challenges. Terry Medley, Chief of the Livestock Waste Division at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, reviewed the new EPA rules regarding Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) which were recently released.
Above: Senator Mark Taddiken, Clifton addresses the board.
Above: Chris Novak, CEO of the National Pork Board answering questions on the We Care Initative. Left: Terry Medley, Chief of the Livestock Waste Division at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reviews EPA rules.
March 2009
EQIP Cutoff Dates Extended to April 10 The signup cutoff date has been extended from Friday, January 30, 2009, to Friday, April 10, 2009, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Although applications may be accepted on a continuing basis, they will be gathered at the close of business on April 10 for this ranking period. Producers with agricultural land, rangeland, or forestland with any concerns should apply at their NRCS local field office and work with them on a conservation plan.
USDA Announces Results of Pork Request for Referendum The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the results of a pork request for referendum that shows too few pork producers and importers want a continuance referendum on the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order. The request for referendum was held from December 8, 2008, through January 2, 2009. If the results of the request for referendum showed that there was sufficient interest among pork producers and importers to have a vote on whether to continue the order, a referendum would have to be held within a year. If at least 15 percent of the 69,446 eligible pork producers and importers nationwide participated in the request for referendum, a referendum would have been conducted. Of the 96 participants, 94 valid requests for a referendum were cast -- far short of the 10,417 required to trigger a referendum.
2009 Swine Profitability Conference
2009 KPA Wendell Moyer Scholarship
Organized under the theme “Staying Competitive in the Swine Industry,” Kansas State University’s 2009 Swine Profitability Conference was held Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Forum Hall in the K-State Student Union. The Kansas Pork Association was again a sponsor of the event along with the Department of Animals Sciences and Industry, K-State Research and Extension and Kansas State University. Other sponsors included College of Veterinary Medicine, KSU, Fourth and Pomeroy Associates, Lextron Animal Health, Midwest Livestock Systems, National Pork Board, Novus, Phibro Animal Health and Suther Feeds.
Hyatt Frobose was presented the 2009 Kansas Pork Association’s Wendell Moyer Scholarship at the Kansas State University’s Swine Profitability Conference held on February 3rd, 2009. Hyatt is currently a student at Kansas State University in Animal Sciences and Industry and will be pursuing his Master’s degree at KSU under the Swine Nutrition Group.
Over 150 attended the conference this year, which included swine producers, allied industry representatives and students.
Dr. Joe Connor of Carthage Veterinary Service (front) responded to a panel question that was crafted by Dr. Steve Henry (behind) during the Change IS Coming- What Do We Need to Do? discussion panel.
Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed
The $1,000 scholarship was created to assist youth who have demonstrated an interest in the swine industry during their time at Kansas State University and to encourage participation in Pete Sherlock DVM, Kansas Pork pork production Association Executive Board while building our member, presented Hyatt Frobose with the 2009 Wendell Moyer Scholarship. leaders of tomorrow. In 1956, Wendell Moyer, KSU Extension Swine Specialist, helped organize a small group of pork producers into the Kansas Swine Improvement Association. Their purpose was to work together to make their businesses more profitable while keeping the swine industry healthy and flourishing statewide. The Kansas Pork Association is working every day to achieve this same goal and is looking forward to Frobose becoming an asset to the pork industry.