Contact:
Tyler Bettin, State Public Policy Director
(800) 372-7675, tbettin@iowapork.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
Common Swine Industry Audit training sessions offered
(CLIVE, Iowa) — The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is partnering with the Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach swine field specialists to offer free training and preparation sessions aimed at helping Iowa pork producers prepare for a Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA).
Session attendees will have an opportunity to walk through steps of the common audit, evaluate areas for improvement on their farms and customize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be best prepared for the audit process. Attendees also will be provided a binder and flash drive, including customizable audit materials for their farms, compliments of IPPA, IPIC and the Pork Checkoff.
Training session dates, times and registration information.
| Date | City | Location and Address | Time | To register, contact: |
| Wed., February 3 | Estherville | Estherville Library – 613 Central Ave. | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
| Fri., Feburary 5 | Cherokee | Cherokee County Extension Office – 209 Centennial Dr. | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
| Tues, March 1 | Knoxville | Marion County Extension Office – 210 N. Iowa St. Knoxville | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Colin Johnson – (515) 291-9287 or colinj@iastate.edu |
| Wed., March 2 | Orange City | Sioux County Extension Office – 400 N. Central Ave. #700 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
| Wed., March 2 | Marshalltown | IVCE Business & Tech Center – 102 College Dr. | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Colin Johnson – (515) 291-9287 or colinj@iastate.edu |
| Mon., March 7 | Washington | Washington County Extension – 2223 250th St. | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Washington County Extension – (319) 653-4811 or tmiller@iastate.edu |
| Fri., March 11 | Tipton | Cedar County Extension Office – 107 Cedar St. | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Cedar County Extension – (563) 886-6157 or tmiller@iastate.edu |
| Tues., March 15 | Williamsburg | Iowa County Extension Office – 223 West Welsh Street | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Iowa County Extension – (319) 668-1052 or tmiller@iastate.edu |
| Thurs., March 17 | Monticello | Jones County Extension Office – 800 N. Maple St. | 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Jones County Extension – (319) 465-3224 |
| Wed., March 23 | Garner | Hancock County Extension Office – 327 W. 8th St. | 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Hancock County Extension – (641) 923-2856 or reuken@iastate.edu |
| Thurs., March 24 | Webster City | Hamilton County Extension Office – 311 Bank St. | 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Hamilton County Extension – (515) 832-9597 or xhamilton@iastate.edu |
| Thurs., March 24 | Glenwood | Mills County Extension Office – 430 1st Street | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Mills County Extension – (712) 527-3316 |
| Thurs., March 24 | Van Horne | Van Horne Community Center – 500 First Ave. | 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Benton County Extension – (319) 472-4739 |
| Tues., March 29 | Sac City | Sac City Extension Office – 620 Park Ave. | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
| Tues., March 29 | Carroll | Carroll County Extension Office – 1205 W Hwy 30 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Carroll County Extension – (712) 792-2364 |
| Wed., March 30 | Osceola | Americ Inn – 111 Ariel Circle | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Clarke County Extension – (641) 342-3316 |
| Thurs., March 31 | Cresco | Howard County Extension Office – 132 1st Ave. W. | 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Howard County Extension – (563) 547-3001 |
| Tues., June 7 | Le Mars | Plymouth County Extension Office – 24 1st. St. NW #1 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
| Tues., June 14 | Washington | Washington County Extension Office – 2223 250th St. | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Washington County Extension – (319) 653-4811 or tmiller@iastate.edu |
| Wed., July 6 | Sibley | Osceola Community Hospital Wellness Center – 600 9th Ave. N. | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Cherokee County Extension – (712) 225-6196 |
Sessions are limited to 15 participants and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional sessions and locations may be scheduled based on demand. Pre-registration is required and producers are encouraged to commit their attendance, if registering, to ensure effective utilization of the limited space.
It’s recommended that producers limit the number of attendees from their farms, or work together at the meetings, to allow for adequate room and materials. Those working with multiple farm-sites or producers should consider sending field staff or individuals that can maximize meeting effectiveness and outreach. A limited number of computers will be provided for attendees. Attendees with their own laptop computers are encouraged to bring them to the sessions. Producers are reminded to be cognizant of biosecurity and attend the meetings in clean street clothes and footwear.
“We are fortunate to have strong swine resources and outreach from Iowa State University to allow for collaboration on these educational opportunities,” said IPPA President Dave Struthers. “These training sessions and the common audit will continue to demonstrate our industry’s commitment to continuous improvement, social responsibility and production of safe pork.”
At the 2013 National Pork Industry Forum, a producer-directed resolution charged the National Pork Board with exploring a credible, affordable solution to assure on-farm animal well-being while reducing burdens of multiple audits and improving audit expectations and consistency. This spawned the Industry Audit Task Force, which included producers, veterinarians, animal scientists, retail and foodservice personnel and packer representatives. IPPA delegates passed a similar resolution at their annual meeting in January 2013.
The goal was to develop a consensus on consistent on-farm auditing standards using the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus and Transport Quality Assurance® programs as a foundation. The result is the Common Swine Industry Audit, which was announced at the 2014 World Pork Expo. It has been tested on farms and is now ready to be implemented by producers and packers across the country.
“The common audit incorporates scientific evidence, ethics and economics, which must be balanced for the pork industry to remain sustainable,” said Sherrie Webb, the Pork Checkoff’s animal welfare director. “As a third-party audit, it provides assurance of farmers’ and processors’ commitment to animal well-being and pre-harvest food safety.”
For more information, contact IPPA at (515) 225-7675 or e-mail tbettin@iowapork.org.
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