September 06, 2005
UNL, ISU Joint Swine Extension Program Increases Resources for Producers
LINCOLN, Neb. — Technology has played a crucial role in the success of a fledgling University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University joint swine extension program, participants say.
The cooperative effort, launched a year ago, has allowed the two universities to share swine experts, lending expertise in areas previously less covered in each state. In this introductory year, the experts were able to lay the foundation for sharing resources efficiently, said Mike Brumm, the UNL Extension swine specialist involved in the agreement.
"It's been a learning experience for both universities," said the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources specialist at UNL's Haskell Agricultural Laboratory near Concord. "We learned we can save travel time in a variety of ways, such as by doing Web casts. Because we've become an electronic society, we can do a lot from here to contribute in Iowa and vice versa."
Tools such as distance learning networks and video conferencing have made the experts more available to pork producers and extension in each state, Brumm said.
Brumm lends his expertise in finished pigs and Iowa State swine veterinarian Locke Karriker contributes his medical knowledge. Brumm called this a "cross-fertilization" of assets that allows ideas to flow immediately between states.
"The agreement leverages the things we're already doing (for) a wider audience, which is more efficient in the long run," Karriker said. "It broadens the number of people we can be effective with, and the two universities can share rather than compete for the same resources."
As a result of the universities' combined efforts plus technology tools, a four-state Pork Bridge program will begin in December. The program, headquartered in Iowa and directed by Brumm, is an outreach to pork producers in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Producers can sign up to receive a CD-ROM every other month that will allow them to participate via a toll-free number in an hour-long meeting about growing finished pigs. Topics will include how to keep pigs eating in hot weather, ventilation controllers, biosecurity and more, Brumm said.
"Pork Bridge is designed for people who work in pig barns, people who normally wouldn't get to attend meetings because they're taking care of pigs," said Brumm, who came up with the program.
In addition to laying the groundwork for broad-scale meetings, the joint effort allows local and area extension staff to offer programs for youth and adult audiences involving extension swine experts from either state as needed.
The initial five-year agreement, which took effect July 1, 2004, could lead toward increased multistate extension activities. In years to come, the universities can build on the precedent of the debut year, Karriker said.
"I'm glad we could establish a foothold," he said. "In general, I not only enjoyed the joint program, but I felt like it's been effective. Moving forward, there's an enormous opportunity for expansion."
The experts have set up aggressive schedules to reach each state in 2005-2006 and expect a productive year with increased producer contact, they said.
"Like anything else, the second year is always better than the first because we'll know what to expect," Brumm said.
For more information about the joint swine extension program, including information about Pork Bridge, contact Brumm at (402) 584-2816 or e-mail mbrumm1@unl.edu. To contact Karriker or other Iowa specialists, call (515) 294-2283 or e-mail karriker@iastate.edu.
9/6/05-SGA
Locke Karriker - D.V.M.
Iowa State University: Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine
Assistant Professor
(515) 294-2283
Mike Brumm - Ph.D.
Animal Science
Professor
(402) 584-2816
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department: Animal Science
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