SE MN Natural Swine Farmers Featured
at Pork Workshop July 28 in St. Charles
CONTACT: Amy Bacigalupo, LSP, 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org
PHOTO AVAILABLE: For a digital photo of Eric Klein, Justin Leonhardt or Ryan Jepsen, contact Amy Bacigalupo
7/22/08
ST. CHARLES, Minn. — Southeast Minnesota-area farmers utilizing natural pork production systems will be featured at a workshop on options for feeding, housing and marketing hogs Monday, July 28, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the St. Charles Community Center. There is no charge for this workshop, but participants should reserve a spot by contacting Amy Bacigalupo at the Land Stewardship Project by calling 320-269-2105 or e-mailing amyb@landstewardshipproject.org.
The afternoon will begin at 3 p.m. with an alternative swine resource fair that will include the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Niman Ranch Pork Company and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture’s Alternative Livestock Program. The workshop presentations start at 4 p.m.
This workshop will not only feature the latest research findings, but will also focus on changes farmers are making in response to the current market crisis and opportunities. Topics to be covered at the workshop include alternatives to corn- and soybean-based feeds given the current high input prices hog farmers face, as well as the economics of natural and organic systems, including low-cost start up strategies.
Presenters will include Iowa State University swine specialists Dave Stender and Peter Lammers. Farmer presenters will be natural swine producers Eric Klein, Justin Leonhardt and Ryan Jepsen. Klein raises hogs near Elgin, Minn., and markets them through various outlets in the region. Leonhardt is a swine farmer from the Kellogg, Minn., area, who is an award-winning producer for Niman Ranch. Jepsen, who farms in northeast Iowa, direct-markets his pasture-raised hogs.
This workshop is sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project and the USDA's Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency.
