Iowa Pork Regional Conference in Independence on February 25th

AMES, Iowa – The 2026 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences will be held February 23-26 in four locations across Iowa, offering pork producers a series of one-day, educational events to strengthen their operations.

Each session will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. The Iowa Pork Regional Conferences bring together specialists to share the latest research findings, production strategies, and industry updates.

The annual conferences are presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the Iowa Pork Industry Center.

2026 Conference Dates and Locations:

• Monday, Feb. 23 – Algona

  Iowa Lakes Community College, Tietz Entrepreneurial Center

  2111 Hwy. 169 N, Algona, IA

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Orange City

  Sioux County Extension Office

  400 Central Ave. N.W., Suite 700, Orange City, IA

• Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Independence

  Heartland Acres Event Center

  2600 Swan Lake Blvd. A, Independence, IA

• Thursday, Feb. 26 – Washington

  Washington County Extension Office

  2223 250th St., Washington, IA

Conference Speakers and Topics:

• Your Waterlines Could be Impacting Growth Performance

  Dr. Gabi Doughan – Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University

  Water quality and water line management are critical for pig health and farm performance. Learn how biofilms and mineral buildup could reduce the effectiveness of medications and vaccines.

• Values of Hog Facilities and Trends for the Future

  Ben Isaacson – Growthland

  Hear about factors influencing hog facility values today and explore the broader trends shaping the future of the pork industry.

• It’s Still Peacetime, But Are You Prepared for a Foreign Animal Disease

  Representatives of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)

  Learn what to expect during a foreign animal disease response, producer responsibilities, available resources, and challenge producers to identify preparedness gaps in their operation.

• Hot Topics in Swine Health

  Dr. Chris Rademacher, Swine Extension Veterinarian and Clinical Professor at Iowa State University.

  Explore new disease surveillance tools available to producers and what’s new with PRRS, PED, and E. coli, as well as some emerging diseases.

• More Tools for Your Toolbox

  Regional Extension Swine Specialist(s) – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

  Tools and solutions to support efficient pork production and help solve common production challenges.

Registration:

Pre-register to ensure adequate materials and food are available. Attendees may register online, by calling IPPA at (515) 225-7675 or (800) 372-7675, or by emailing info@iowapork.org.

For those unable to attend in person, session recordings will be made available on the IPPA website after the conference series is complete.