Women In Ag Conference To Look At Swine Health
COLUMBIA, MO.
Women pork producers can learn about new vaccines to combat porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) at the annual Pearls of Production conference Nov. 7-8 at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Columbia. The disease kills pigs three weeks or younger.
Marcia Shannon, University of Missouri Extension swine specialist, offers new information on diseases of concern to pork producers, including porcine delta coronavirus, which appeared in Missouri swine operations in April and, like PEDV, causes severe diarrhea. Nine cases have been reported to date.
Shannon will review biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of PEDV. The number of cases peaked nationally in March. However, five cases were reported in Missouri during the summer, when growth of the disease typically slows.
The conference provides leadership and hands-on training for women in agriculture, Shannon said.
The event covers food and nutrition topics, farm safety, self-care, estate planning and finance, and hands-on training for swine, cattle and sheep producers.
MU Extension, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources sponsor the annual event. ∆