SwineTime with Pipestone

What does it take to get more people eating pork? And what happens if the industry can improve pig health while growing demand at the same time?In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Hannah Walkes, President of Pipestone Services, and David Newman, CEO of the National Pork Board, for a candid conversation about the future of the pork industry.Drawing from his experience as a pork producer, meat scientist, marketer, and industry leader, Newman shares why demand has become one of the biggest opportunities facing pork producers today. From his vision of getting "more people eating more pork more often" to the challenge of connecting with younger consumers, he explains why understanding the customer may be just as important as understanding production.The discussion dives into what drives pork purchases today, including flavor, convenience, nutrition, and changing consumer preferences. Newman explains why he believes pork is uniquely positioned to win with future generations and highlights opportunities to build stronger demand both at home and around the world.Of course, demand is only one side of the equation. Wayne, Walkes, and Newman also tackle some of the industry's toughest health challenges, including PRRS, biosecurity, and foreign animal disease preparedness. The conversation explores whether the biggest barriers to progress are scientific or behavioral, what long-term disease elimination could look like, and why better pig health and stronger consumer demand must go hand in hand.Along the way, Newman offers his perspective on producer profitability, the value of the pork checkoff, and the responsibility the industry shares in creating a sustainable future for the next generation of pig farmers.Whether you're thinking about market trends, swine health, consumer behavior, or the future of your operation, this episode offers a fresh perspective on where the industry is headed and what it will take to get there.In this episode:• Why "more people eating more pork more often" matters• Consumer trends shaping the future of pork demand• Reaching Millennial and Gen Z consumers• Pork's role in nutrition and healthy diets• PRRS, biosecurity, and disease elimination• Foreign animal disease preparedness• Producer profitability and the pork checkoff• Building a stronger future for pork producers

What does excellent veterinary service look like in today's pork industry?In the final episode of the Communication That Drives Results series, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. Joel Nerem and Chris Bomgaars to discuss how communication is changing the way veterinarians and producers work together to support pig health and production.For decades, veterinary service has centered around farm visits, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations. While those remain important, today's swine industry faces new challenges. Veterinarians are responsible for more farms, production systems continue to grow in scale, biosecurity remains a priority, and the industry has fewer swine veterinarians entering the profession than in years past.As a result, both producers and veterinarians are being challenged to think differently about how information is shared, how decisions are made, and how veterinary expertise is delivered.The conversation explores how communication tools, virtual consultations, digital records, photos, videos, and real-time production data can help veterinary teams stay connected to what's happening on farms, even when they can't physically be there. Rather than replacing farm visits, these tools can help veterinarians focus more of their time on solving problems, improving herd health, and providing value where it's needed most.The guests also discuss the importance of context in making health decisions. A picture, video, production trend, or diagnostic result can provide critical insight that helps producers and veterinarians identify issues sooner and respond more effectively. Strong communication allows teams to move from reacting to problems toward proactively managing them.Throughout the episode, listeners will hear a thoughtful discussion about the future of swine veterinary medicine, including workforce challenges, producer expectations, biosecurity considerations, regulatory requirements, and the evolving role of technology as one tool among many available to support animal health.Key Takeaways for Pig ProducersWhy communication remains one of the most important services veterinarians provide.How the veterinary profession is adapting to industry growth and workforce challenges.Ways producers can improve communication with their veterinary teams.The role of virtual consultations, photos, videos, and production data in decision-making.How better communication can lead to faster responses, stronger herd health, and improved production outcomes.Whether you're a swine producer, farm manager, veterinarian, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable insights into how veterinary service is evolving and what that means for the future of pig production.As this three-part series concludes, one theme remains clear: communication with employees, growers, and veterinarians continues to be one of the most important drivers of successful pig production.

What separates great growers from the rest? In Part 2 of the Communication That Drives Results series, Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by swine producer Brandy Lanning of Three Lakes Livestock and Pipestone Veterinary Physician's Assistant Erin McCoy to discuss one of the most important drivers of success in wean-to-finish production: communication.From coordinating pig movements and managing health challenges to setting expectations and strengthening grower relationships, effective communication plays a critical role in barn performance. Throughout the conversation, Brandy and Erin share real-world experiences showing how strong communication between owners, growers, veterinarians, and consultants leads to healthier pigs, better teamwork, and improved production results.The Importance of Growers in Swine OperationsGrowers are the backbone of every barn. Their daily care, decisions, and attention to pig health make a measurable difference in:• Pig growth and performance• Barn efficiency• Overall farm successBrandy shares her experience managing barns, training new growers, and keeping teams engaged. Dr. Wayne and Erin provide veterinary insights, demonstrating how effective communication and guidance support both pigs and people.Setting Clear Expectations and Practical TrainingA key theme throughout the episode is that successful communication goes beyond simply giving instructions. Managers and consultants cannot assume growers understand what needs to be done or why it matters. Effective training is:• Hands-on and practical• Continuous and supportive• Focused on both the task and the reasoning behind itWhen growers understand the "why," they take ownership of the "how." That ownership builds confidence, improves consistency, and strengthens barn culture.Motivation, Trust, and Data-Driven DecisionsThe conversation also explores how communication builds trust. Recognizing effort, celebrating wins, listening to grower feedback, and maintaining open dialogue all contribute to stronger working relationships and long-term success.Brandy and Dr. Wayne discuss how data related to pig health, growth, mortality, and feed efficiency can become a powerful communication tool. When growers understand how their daily actions impact performance, they're more engaged in continuous improvement.Key Takeaways for Pig ProducersListeners will walk away with practical strategies to:• Improve communication with growers• Build stronger relationships across production teams• Train and motivate barn staff more effectively• Use data to drive better decisions and pig performance• Create a culture of accountability and continuous improvementWhether you're a contract grower, swine producer, farm manager, or production consultant, this episode demonstrates why good barns have great growers and how communication remains one of the most powerful tools for improving pig performance and farm success.

What happens when a farm manager from rural America and a pig care technician from Mexico are working toward the same goal but don't speak the same language?In Part 1 of the Communication That Drives Results series, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Giovanna Penuelas and Sam DeHaas to discuss one of the most important topics facing today's pork industry: building successful teams across language and cultural barriers.For many pig farmers, working with a multilingual workforce is no longer the exception. It's the reality of modern swine production. But communication challenges are about much more than translating English into Spanish. They're about trust, training, safety, relationships, and creating an environment where employees can succeed and pigs receive the best possible care.Giovanna shares her experience of leaving Mexico and adapting to life in the United States, from navigating Midwest winters and learning new production systems to helping other agricultural professionals make the same transition. Sam brings the producer perspective, discussing what farm owners and managers can do to help employees feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success from day one.The conversation is packed with practical insights for swine producers, including how farms are using bilingual leadership, translation technology, visual training tools, and hands-on coaching to improve communication. The group also discusses a common challenge on every farm: making sure employees truly understand instructions, protocols, and safety expectations rather than simply nodding in agreement.Along the way, you'll hear lessons on culture, teamwork, leadership, and why even a small effort to speak someone else's language can make a lasting impact.Whether you manage a sow farm, oversee a wean-to-finish system, or operate a family-owned grow-finish site, this episode offers valuable insights into workforce development, employee retention, farm culture, and communication in modern pork production.Because at the end of the day, successful pig farms aren't built on pigs alone. They're built on people, and strong communication is often the difference between good teams and great ones.Tune in to learn how better communication can lead to safer farms, stronger teams, improved pig care, and better production results.

Summer heat can have a major impact on pig comfort, feed intake, growth performance, and overall barn efficiency. In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Dr. Joseph Yaros, Pipestone veterinarian and Director of the FarmPro Team, to discuss proven strategies producers can use to reduce heat stress and keep pigs performing during the hottest months of the year. Using the acronym SUMMER, Dr. Yaros outlines the key areas swine producers should focus on when preparing barns for hot weather. The conversation begins with the importance of properly configured stir fans and how strategic airflow can help maintain more consistent barn temperatures. The discussion then moves to updating ventilation controller settings, including adjusting bandwidths and fan staging to improve cooling efficiency during summer conditions.The hosts also cover the proper use of misters and evaporative cooling systems, explaining why timing, duration, and pig size all play a role in achieving the desired cooling effect. Listeners will learn why simply adding more water is not always the answer and how improper mister settings can create excessive humidity and reduce cooling effectiveness. Additional topics include maximizing airflow through functional fans, identifying ventilation bottlenecks, and understanding the concept of desired room temperature versus controller set point. Dr. Yaros explains how maintaining cooler conditions can encourage pigs to eat more feed, increase water intake, and support improved average daily gain throughout the finishing period. The episode also highlights the importance of emergency preparedness, including testing generators, backup thermostats, alarm systems, temperature probes, and emergency curtain drops. As temperatures rise, equipment failures can quickly become critical, making routine maintenance and system checks essential for protecting animal welfare and preventing losses.Whether you manage nurseries, finishers, or sow farms, this episode delivers practical, field-tested advice on heat stress prevention, swine barn ventilation, summer pig care, airflow management, emergency planning, and pig performance optimization. Tune in to learn how small adjustments to your ventilation and cooling strategies can help keep pigs comfortable, healthy, and growing all summer long.