7 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | December 2024 They may not bring an apple for the teacher anymore, but education is still a core value for producers. The pork sector in Canada is renowned for innovation, and members who don’t keep up with the changes may well be left behind. Fortunately, there is ample opportunity for lifelong learning, something that is gaining greater uptake across the country. “Being up to date with changes is critical, not just for pork producers, but for any field where the technology and strategies are constantly evolving,” says Robyn Harte, swine livestock specialist with Manitoba Agriculture in Winnipeg. “When remaining current is closely tied to your income, it behooves you to keep abreast of what’s happening around pork production. Apart from the direct benefit for farmers, staying plugged in reassures consumers, government and other observers that things are being done the right away.” Though continuous learning is not new for the industry, the sophistication of the material and the learners has grown over the years. “These days, it’s not just ‘I have a bit of time, so I’ll stop in and listen to a guy talking about feeding canola to my pigs,’” says Harte. Producers do their homework and come prepared with questions that impact their operation. “’How do I incorporate the data from my feeders, or the information from processors about backfat and loin depth, in deciding how to feed my pigs?’” says Harte. “A lot of this is applying threads of data to critical decisions based on the implications for your business and for the broader financial and social contexts in which those choices are made.” Some of the most popular routes for gaining knowledge are swine events that feature expert speakers on topics of interest to producers. A prime example is the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium, held each February in Saskatoon. The event draws about 300 producers, industry Robyn Harte CONTINUOUS LEARNING Some 275 producers gather yearly at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium. Ashley Steeple photo
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