Pork producers invited to attend Iowa ventilation workshops

Two workshops designed to help pork producers manage building ventilation equipment have been set for later this month in northern Iowa. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach livestock program specialist Russ Euken said people can attend “Managing Your Unseen Employee” at either the Feb. 28 session at the NIACC farm shop in Mason City or the Feb. 29 session at the Van Diest Building on the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Webster City.

“Each program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and feature both classroom and demonstration opportunities,” Euken said. “ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Pork Industry Center are sponsoring the program with funding provided by Smithfield to cover speakers and program materials.”

Jay Harmon, Iowa State University agricultural and biosystems engineering professor, said the workshop will teach basic ventilation principles for moisture control and heat relief, motor curve characteristics for variable speed fans and how to identify and solve common ventilation problems and mistakes.

"This course gives participants hands-on experience with ventilation systems so they're ready to go when they return to their operations," Harmon said. "They actually turn the dials and twist the knobs, which is the best way to learn."

Presenters will demonstrate ventilation principles by using a portable room equipped with single speed and variable speed fans, a variety of inlets and controllers. The ventilation trailer is a unique educational tool that was funded by Pork Checkoff and developed by the land grant universities of ISU, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota State.

The workshop brochure is available on the IPIC website.

There is no charge for the workshop. Participants will receive a course notebook with handouts. Attendance is limited to 30, with a minimum of 10 registrations required to hold the workshop. Preregistration is required and will be available until the day before each workshop date, only if space remains.

For additional information or to preregister, contact Euken at the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Hancock County by phone at 641-923-2856 or email reuken@iastate.edu.