The Iowa Pork Producers Association will be co-sponsoring three field days in June. The event will explore options to bring unused farms back into hog production for niche markets.

Each farm is unique. Iowa State University Extension ag engineers will discuss options to upgrade or retrofit these facilities. ISU Extension swine field specialists will calculate and discuss "through-put," meaning the number of market hogs needed per year to optimize profit potential. Operators of the farms also will describe how they used the facilities to raise hogs. Other collaborators include Practical Farmers of Iowa and ISU, with support coming from an ISU On-Farm Research and Demonstration Program grant. There is no fee to attend.

Field Day Schedule

Monday, June 16; 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Larry Miller
2338 185th St.
Dana, IA 50064

Description: This farm has two building sites that are about a quarter mile apart. There is a big, older barn that was used for farrowing in the past, plus several cattle barns and other buildings that can hold about 700 market hogs. There also is quite a bit of unused concrete and some other smaller sheds.

Directions: Just east of Grand Junction on Hwy 30, take county road P46 north 3.5 miles to 185th Street, turn east and go 0.6 miles. North side of road.

Tuesday, June 17; 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Tom Miller
1135 Kentucky Ave.
Winfield, IA 52659

Description: This farm has an older 12-stall farrowing building, plus two hoop buildings that were used for finishing hogs. There also is an open-front shed, a cattle loafing shed, and an older barn, all of which have concrete inside and outside.

Directions: 1/2 mile north of Olds on Hwy 218, turn east on 115th St., go 3/4 mile to Kentucky Ave., then north 1/4 mile. West side of road.

Thursday, June 26; 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Mark and Valerie Olson
1283 180th St.
Schaller, IA 51053

Description: This farm has a confinement farrowing building and a small confinement nursery, both with gutter systems for manure removal. There also are two Cargill units for finishing hogs, plus various smaller buildings and lots of unused concrete.

Directions: 2 miles north of Schaller on Hwy 110, turn west on 180th St., go 2.1 miles (just past Buchanan Ave. on north side of road).

If you have any questions or would like to attend any or all of the field days, please contact Gary Huber at Practical Farmers of Iowa at (515) 232-5661, ext.103, or gary@practicalfarmers.org.