Weekly Update 9/20/2024

9/20/2024

Manure Pumping Increases PRRS Outbreak Risks: New Research Highlights Critical Biosecurity Measures

As we head into manure pumping season, it’s essential that all farm managers and teams commit to following biosecurity protocols 100 percent. Manure application is essential to our business, but the process presents significant risks to the health of our pigs.

New research from wean-to-market closeout reports focused on three events—the location of manure pumping and then the location and timespan of the manure application.

Research showed that the likelihood of a PRRS outbreak can increase by up to 71% within four weeks following a manure pumping event.
Research indicated that farms located within one mile of manure application sites face up to a 270% higher likelihood of a PRRS outbreak within three weeks.
Research found that the likelihood of a PRRS outbreak during manure application at farms within three miles of the application site is up to 75% higher.

To minimize these risks, it's critical that everyone throughout production and support operations strictly adheres to our biosecurity protocols.

It's important to note that our Wean-to-Market mortality has almost doubled during the manure application season in the past two years.

To help reinforce our biosecurity practices, the Health Services team is organizing a series of "Pumping Biosecurity and Inspection" training sessions. These will be held at three locations:

Rockwell City, Iowa on September 18th
Iowa Falls, Iowa on September 20th
Southern Iowa on September 27th

These trainings will cover best practices for manure handling, equipment cleaning, and biosecurity inspections and will help ensure we are all doing everything we can to protect the health of our pigs during this high-risk period.

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

Sow 44 Hosts the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Team

Last week, Hooper Sow Farm hosted Iowa's Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke, along with his team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). IDALS plays an important role in supporting Iowa’s agricultural economy by providing resources to farmers, promoting agricultural education to the community and stakeholders, spearheading efforts for disease prevention and mitigation and helping expand Iowa’s agricultural markets both domestically and internationally. This was Deputy Secretary Menke's first time touring a Prop-12-compliant farm. "Having the opportunity to show the department and decision makers our compliance adjustments and continued commitment to animal care and regulatory compliance is essential to our production system," said Jamie Horbach, Director of Public Affairs, "people like Grant work behind the scenes for producers so we can keep doing what we do best, providing great care for animals and adding food to tables around the world."

The Hooper team will complete the final tour of the year on October 1st, a huge thank you to the team for all their added time and attention to detail to have the farm show ready.

Mikey Shields Celebrates 30 Years

“Iowa Select Farms has been a major part of my life,” said Mikey Shields, the Ringgold Sow 28 manager. “I never imagined it would turn into a career like this.”

Mikey has been an invaluable member of our team for 30 years and has filled many roles. He’s witnessed the pork industry evolve while growing his career from animal caretaker to sow farm manager. Today, Mikey oversees a 4,300-head sow farm in southern Iowa and trains and develops employees who pass through his farm. “I really enjoy what I do,” he said. “I strive to create a workplace environment where everyone feels empowered. Watching my team gain confidence and succeed is the best part of my job.”

Those who know Mikey know he’s a caring and dedicated individual who can connect with anyone. “I love working with the pigs, of course, but I enjoy the people the most,” he said. “Some of my greatest friends I met working here.”

Aside from the people and pigs, Mikey says it's also the community involvement and camaraderie. “I love how we are committed to doing the right thing in our communities and making a difference where we live and work.”

In his free time, Mikey can be found following the Dallas Cowboys and Iowa Hawkeyes and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Shelly, enjoy going on trips to Florida. Mikey and Shelly are the proud parents of Tessa, who recently received her doctorate, and John, who was the 2023 Iowa Soldier of the Year.

Thank you, Mikey, for your 30 years of service!

Spread the Word!

The newest Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation program needs your help! Pork for Patriots offers pork loins and event kits to veterans organizations that are having Veterans Day celebrations. If you are involved in a veteran organization in your community, please let them know about this offering! Eligible organizations include but are not limited to County or State Veterans Affairs Departments, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA), Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Vietnam, Veterans of America (VVA), Homeless Women Veterans and American Women Veterans Organization.

Interested groups can register here. Questions can be directed to lnoehren@iowaselect.com

Celebrating 15 Years With Gabe McWilliams

“My passion for the swine industry began when I was a little kid,” said Gabe McWilliams. “I grew up showing pigs at the county fair through 4-H and have been hooked ever since.” In 2008, Gabe’s cousin convinced him to apply for a job with Iowa Select Farms and turn his passion into a career.

Fifteen years ago, Gabe McWilliams began his journey in pork production with us. Since then, he has worked in nearly every production phase, developing a deep appreciation and understanding of all the elements that go into pig care. Gabe started his career at sow farms, had a brief stint at Davis GDU for a breeding project, and later moved to transportation, where he hauled weaned pigs. Now, Gabe is a dedicated animal caretaker in the farrowing department at Ringgold Sow 28.

Gabe plays an essential role on the farm, and seeing the pigs weaned gives him a big feeling of accomplishment. “I focus on doing the right thing for the pigs and the farm,” he said. “I never imagined myself in this role, but I enjoy caring for newborn piglets and sows and helping them thrive on our farm.”

Outside of work, Gabe enjoys working on demolition derby cars, attending truck and tractor pulls, and spending time with family and friends while cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones. Thank you, Gabe, for spending 15 years with Iowa Select Farms!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to John Hoffman, Manager of Fonken Sow 26, on the arrival of his new grandson, Mateo Oliver Lemus!

Words of Thanks

Dave Osman would like to express his gratitude to the crews at the Ponderosa farms and Phillip Barncastle, who've started weaning twice a week. This has led to transport efficiency and reduced biosecurity risk, with fewer trucks and trailers on the farm each week. Dave also thanks the IT department for their assistance in improving the transport process through Tools, as well as the entire transportation team for their willingness to adapt and work through transitions as they make updates and improvements in Tools.

Trent Myers thanks Erick Hernandez for his help mass-treating the Strickler wean-to-market site and ensuring the vaccinating crew followed biosecurity and treatment protocols. The pigs look great and continue to stay PRRS-negative!

Rick Chamberlin expresses his appreciation to Jeff Hansen, CEO, for his generosity and commitment to our Homegrown Iowa communities and to all employees at Iowa Select Farms. He also extends gratitude to all the wonderful people he has met throughout the years—we wish him the best in retirement!

Do you want to give thanks to someone in the Weekly Update? Please send it to Abby Fausch at afausch@iowaselect.com.

Joke of the Week

What kind of hog does a pig ride?

Pork Chopper!

This Week's Years of Service

Check out all of the employees below celebrating their work anniversaries this week and last week. If you see these folks out and about, be sure to congratulate them!

28 Years

Chris Fields, Wean-to-Market Manager Nursery 007

27 Years

Virgil Bolinger, GDU Manager GDU 544 Brooks

25 Years

Sheila Munyon, GTC Transport Boar 005 Cheers

Dean Reddel, Heat Check/AI Specialist Sow 023 Erickson

Mary Kraft, Sow Farm Manager Sow 023 Erickson

Craig Mullenbach, Heat Check/AI Specialist Sow 027 Gieger

Cynthia Ziegler, Warehouse Manager

Aaron Perry, Sow Farm Manager Sow 037 Primrose

24 Years

Doug Bates, Sow Farm Manager Sow 044 Hooper

Louis Lumbard, Sow Farm Manager Sow 015 Jernquist

21 Years

John Schachterle, Wean-to-Market Manager Nursery 011 Benton

20 Years

Lili Alonzo, HR Specialist

17 Years

Darl Starek, Wean-to-Market Supervisor

15 Years

Chris Renihan, Dispatcher

8 Years

Danny Lamb, GDU Manager GDU 541 Gravity

Karla Brooks, TN Training Coordinator

7 Years

Miguel Miranda Ortiz, Farrowing Department Head Sow 027 Gieger

Yara Ramirez Garcia, Farrowing Department Head Sow 035 Elmand

Amanda Hall, Purchasing Specialist

5 Years

Erik Giron Machorro, Farrowing Department Head Sow 025 Wright Sow

Mariano Estrada Garcia, Assistant Farrowing Department Head Sow 114

Alejandro Penagos Zuarth, Breeding Department Head Sow 017 Ochylski

4 Years

Abiud Zepeda Figueroa, Assistant Breeding Department Head Sow 014 Arends

Rolando Alvarado Coronado, Assistant Breeding Department Head Sow 042 Sandy Hill

3 Years

David Cabrera Narvaez, Heat Check/AI Specialist Sow 116

Evelin De la Cruz Landero, Animal Breeder Sow 038 Smyrna

Jesus Lopez Santiago, Animal Breeder Sow 033 Jamestown

Gaspar Gonzalez Canales, Animal Breeder Sow 005 Swanson

Victor Bejines Cano, Assistant Farrowing Department Head Sow 015 Jernquist Sow

Valerio Alanis, Sr. Wean-to-Market Supervisor

2 Years

Rodrigo Leon Villegas, Sr. Wean-to-Market Supervisor

Mayra Cerro Dedho, Newborn Pig Specialist Sow 034 Derby

Xoco Toledo Matus, Assistant Breeding Department Head Sow 041 Upland

Adilene De la Cruz Torres, Animal Breeder Sow 032 Last Chance

Wendy Lara Jacobo, Animal Breeder Sow 034 Derby

Melquiades Lopez Aquino, Gestation Specialist Sow 039 Yale

Connie Higgs, Animal Caretaker Sow 030 Popcorn

Carlos Lopez Garcia, GTC Specialist Boar 005 Cheers

1 Year

Magui Cruz Urbano, Newborn Pig Specialist Sow 034 Derby

Misael Vigueras Perez, Animal Breeder Sow 032 Last Chance

Luz Ramirez Perez, Animal Breeder Sow 031 Holstein

Rafael Leyva Sanchez, Animal Breeder Sow 039 Yale

Ivan Rosado Uribe, Animal Breeder Sow 044 Hooper

Edna Barbara Aleman Gonzalez, Animal Breeder Sow 114

Lucio Cordova Dominguez, Animal Breeder Sow 029 Thayer

Xochitl Benitez Arellano, Animal Breeder Sow 039 Yale

Patricia Garcia Jimenez, Animal Breeder Sow 029 Thayer

Luis Lopez Topete, Animal Breeder Sow 019 Union

Lauren Davis, Truck Wash Biosecurity Monitor

Celeste Guzman Ortiz, Animal Breeder Sow 018 Jones

Rodrigo Villegas Soberanes, Animal Breeder Sow 032 Last Chance

Alissa Waldron, Wean-to-Market Supervisor

Chris Wampler, Maintenance Technician - Sow/GDU

Stephen McDaniel, Animal Caretaker Sow 007 Jacobson

Melissa Carrillo Escalante, Animal Breeder Sow 002 Rout

Francisco Salado Avila, Animal Breeder Sow 029 Thayer

Leiver Hernandez Garcia, Animal Breeder Sow 029 Thayer

Internal Job Openings

Looking for a new role within Iowa Select Farms? Check out what you may have missed last week. To see a list of our current and new job openings and information on applying, click here or contact Human Resources at 641-648-4479.

On-Call Maintenance Schedule

Stay up-to-date with the on-call maintenance schedule and never lose track of its location. This schedule can be found here, and it will continually be updated in real-time.