The conference will discuss critical issues facing the swine industry, including nuisance laws; risk identification and management; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS); air filtration and CAFO rules; the hog situation and market outlook; and what the global economy means to Missouri pork producers.

The Institute will begin with a "rapid-fire" session from CA swine team members Tim Safranski, Beth Young, Joe Zulovich and Teng Lim. Topics will include an update on the Missouri PRRS Control and Elimination Project, air inlet filtration and new biofilters for emission control.

The luncheon programme will feature Neil Dierks, National Pork Producers Council chief executive officer.

The highly popular session on nuisance laws will be repeated this year, with CA legal analyst Vern Pierce talking about the newest Missouri laws; attorney Jean Paul Bradshaw explaining what the nuisance laws mean to Missouri swine producers; and state Sen. Kurt Schaefer offering advice on what to do when a neighbor has filed a nuisance suit.

Ray Massey, CA economist, will give a presentation on risk identification and management concerning feed and finance. Joe Zulovich, CA swine team leader, will offer an overview of CAFO rules and permits.

Dan Vaught, professional futures market consultant, will speak on The Hog Situation and Market Outlook.

The one-day Swine Institute will conclude with Supper with Abner Womack. Dr Womack will discuss the global economy and what it may mean to Missouri pork producers. Dr Womack recently retired as senior economist and director of the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI).

The Institute will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. and conclude with the 6 p.m. dinner programme. For registration information, contact Travis Dixon of the MU Conference Office, 573-882-6059 or [email protected]. For information on the programme or speakers, contact Katrina Turner at the Commercial Agriculture Programme, [email protected] or 573-882-0378.