The industry is facing tough times and rock bottom prices and the meetings will help producers re-evaluate their units and get ideas on simple changes that could strengthen their business through the coming months.

Lead knowledge transfer manager Steve Winfield said: “The meetings are an opportunity to hear from key industry figures and producers, ask questions and work through some ‘what if’ calculations to help decide how to influence cost of production.”

Practical steps could be related to gilt and sow management, reducing feed or energy use or looking at slaughter weights, as discussed in the recent AHDB Pork ‘Getting Through Tough Times’ webinar, with Ciarán Carroll of Teagasc.

There will be many other potential topics to be discussed with speakers at the meetings. The dates, locations and speakers are:

15 March (East) – Diss – Stephen Hall, Richard Bull and Simon Watchorn
22 March (South West) – Exeter – Jonathan French, Richard Bull and Tim Blanchard
23 March (Shropshire) – Hodnet – Nick White, Richard Bull

Another date in the North will be added. For full details and to register, go to: pork.ahdb.org.uk/pig-production/tackling-tough-times/ where the webinar recording is also available.