Pipestone Veterinary Services Swine Time Podcast

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Kiah Berg, Senior Supervisor of Nutrition with Pipestone Nutrition, to discuss the state of feed costs and her recommendations for proper nutrition strategies. Dr. Berg explains the recent trends in feed costs, highlighting the notable decrease in prices for key ingredients such as corn and soybean meal, resulting in significant cost savings for pig production. Dr. Berg underscores the importance of regularly monitoring ingredient prices and reformulating diets to optimize cost efficiency while maintaining nutritional quality. Drs. Wayne and Berg emphasize the need for adaptive feed management, they discuss the frequency of reformulation, suggesting regular reviews based on cost savings thresholds and market dynamics. Furthermore, Dr. Berg stresses the importance of adjusting feed orders based on herd size and mortality events to prevent overfeeding and optimize feed utilization. Overall, the podcast offers valuable insights and practica

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, hosted by Dr. Spencer Wayne, the featured guest is Dr. Scott Dee who shares valuable insights for young veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, recalling his journey from being told he couldn’t attend vet school to becoming a prominent figure in the field. The discussion also touches on the balance between scientific and artistic talents, with Dr. Dee highlighting his creative approach to scientific problem-solving. Mentorship is a central theme as he encourages young veterinarians to remember and appreciate those who have played significant roles in their development. The conversation also explores Dr. Dee’s experiences living in Brazil, underscoring how exposure to different cultures and witnessing poverty profoundly shaped his perspective on making a positive impact on both animal and human lives. The pair further cover themes such as embracing adversity, finding joy in one’s work, and the ultimate goal of finishing a career feeling accomplished

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare at PIPESTONE, and Dr. Carissa Odland, Director of Sustainability for Wholestone Farms, a producer-owned packer enterprise.  The episode provides insights into the complex dynamics of animal welfare, sustainability, and consumer preferences in the swine industry.

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Adam Schelkopf, Health Director for Pipestone Management, for a discussion on the overall health status of PIPESTONE-managed farms. Historically, this time of year brings an increase in illness, especially PRRS infections. Dr. Schelkopf reports less than 10% of PIPESTONE-managed farms breaking with PRRS over the last two years, which is far better than in the past. He attributes the improvement to compounding interventions over time. Feed mitigation is the most recent strategy implemented at PIPESTONE, having been in place for 2-3 years it correlates well to the reduction in PRRS over the last two years. Over the last 15 years air filtration has been implemented in nearly 70% of farms. And lastly, location selection. The good health reported from an isolated sow farm pays dividends. In regard to the wean-to-finish side, Dr. Schelkopf stresses the importance of alternatives to antibiotics – management, environment, sanitation, and biosecurity. Though the availability of generic

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Marty Rost, Environmental Specialist with PIPESTONE, to talk about the valuable commodity we have in manure. The pair discuss the importance of understanding its value and making it work for you and your neighbors. Marty talks about the differences in facilities he sees and shares insight on finding opportune times to pump a farm. Additionally, Dr. Wayne asks Marty to explain why safety is such a crucial part of manure management and outlines procedures to minimize health risks for both humans and livestock.    PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care, and how to enhance your productivity.

Dr. Barry Kerkaert, Chairman of the Board, takes the reigns and puts Dr. Spencer Wayne in the hot seat to celebrate our 50th episode of the podcast.   The pair discuss the goals of SwineTime and reflect on some of Dr. Wayne's favorite episodes. He shares behind-the-scenes happenings reflecting on memorable guests and the impactful work our experts have shared on the podcast.   Dr. Wayne and Dr. Kerkaert close the celebration with their interpretation of our mission - Helping Farmers.

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Hannah Walkes, President of Pipestone Services, to chat about the recent leadership transitions at PIPESTONE - including the creation of two divisions, Pipestone Services and Pipestone Partnerships. Hannah provides insight into how her upbringing and tenure at PIPESTONE have fueled her passion and made her uniquely qualified to take the reigns as President of Pipestone Services. She outlines her goals and shares what customers, shareholders, and employees can expect from the company going forward.

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Taylor Spronk to talk about the pig promotion activities happening at PIPESTONE.  Dr. Taylor discusses the county and state fairs that PIPESTONE supports with exhibits and live sows across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa.  Additionally, she describes the Discovery Barn, championed by PIPESTONE’s own Sylvia Wolters, which is an agricultural experience at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD. The pair chat about interacting with the public and sharing information about pig farming at these types of events. Dr. Taylor also addresses biosecurity concerns that arise when going to a fair and steps we can all take to mitigate the health risk to commercial herds.

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Jon DeJong, President of Pipestone Nutrition to talk about what’s new with his team and all things nutrition. Pipestone Nutrition provides economic-driven, feed ingredient procurement and performance-based diet formulations that fit both your operation and your bottom line. Dr. Wayne and DeJong discuss a variety of interesting topics surrounding swine nutrition. DeJong shares how his team manages wean-to-finish nutrition vs. sow nutrition and the challenges that arise when diagnosing issues in the barn. They look at the types of feeders commonly used today, how they have evolved both in the U.S. and abroad and key things to consider when looking at feed efficiency. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal ca

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dan Hanson and Giovanna Penuelas to discuss FarmTeam, a service offering of Pipestone Business. FarmTeam utilizes the human resource expertise of PIPESTONE to provide independent pork producers access to qualified farm employees for grow/finish teams. From a producer’s perspective, Hanson, the Director of FarmTeam, highlights the benefits for producers and the steps taken by FarmTeam to ensure a successful experience for both parties. From a team member’s perspective, Penuelas, FarmTeam Coordinator, shares some common challenges a TN will face when moving to the U.S. and how she supports their transition. Tune in to learn more! PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care, and how to enhance your productivi

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Damon Vander Maten, Director of FarmBooks for Pipestone Business. Dr. Wayne and Damon talk about the accounting demands on producers and define what it means to be financially sustainable. He explains how the FarmBooks program came to be and what value it provides an operation. Dr. Wayne calls on Damon to share his thoughts on what should be monitored more closely this year, key items to review, and new ideas to improve reporting. Your financials should be a tool used in decision-making, tune in to learn more. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care, and how to enhance your productivity. Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, ITunes, Anchor, and on Pipestone.com.

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE Nutritionists Hayden Kerkaert and Jacob Koepke. They share their perspective on what factors are impacting today’s high feed costs and discuss considerations for producers to remain profitable despite rising costs. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care and how to enhance your productivity. Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, iTunes, Anchor and Pipestone.com.

In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne and PIPESTONE CEO Dr. Luke Minion answer all your big burning questions: what’s to come in the pork industry next year? What’s new with PIPESTONE? And will Luke ever run for office? Fresh off the campaign trail against a Sioux Falls ballot measure that would have prevented the construction of a new Wholestone Farms pork processing facility, Luke runs through the challenges and successes of his involvement in the campaign and his thoughts on this brief entrance into the political arena. Catch up on the new YellowStone and GreenStone programs now offered by PIPESTONE for cattle and carbon farmers, how they add value for producers and what the future holds for these projects.

In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. Scott Dee, who currently serves as the Director of Research for PIPESTONE Veterinary Services. Dive into the viral risks associated with feed, and how to alleviate the risks on your operation. According to Scott, this information is relatively new to the industry as is the use of feed mitigants to deal with the risk of introducing outside feed to the barn. Learn more about how disease spreads through feed, the three types of feed mitigants, and how we’ve come to understand their use. Scott also discusses his upcoming phased retirement, reflections on the growth of PIPESTONE and his growth in the veterinary profession, and plans for his well-deserved retirement.

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE’s Director of Records and Information, Angie Homann, and President of Nutrition, Jon De Jong. Recently, PIPESTONE has taken steps to explore the benefits and challenges of an older weaned pig. The health benefits are evident for grow-finish farmers. Older weaned pigs are healthier, stronger, and in most cases, require less antibiotics. What does this look like at the sow farm level? What does the data behind performance say? Tune into this episode as our guests dive into the logistics of those questions and where PIPESTONE is directing their efforts to meet the demand from grow-finish shareholders. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care and how to enhance your productivity. Monthly podcasts are available on

In this 40th episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dr. Adam Schelkopf. Adam has been with PIPESTONE for 10 years now and holds the title, Director of Health for Pipestone Managed farms. Sow repopulation can be an intimidating idea for pig farmers, but in some cases, is a financially beneficial solution for a farm with pig health issues. What factors lead to a de-pop/re-pop scenario and how can farmers use this to their advantage? Tune in as they discuss sow repopulation and how health advances have helped retain sows of high health for the farms of tomorrow. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care and how to enhance your productivity. Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, ITunes, Anchor and on Pipestone.com.

In this episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne talks all things Mycoplasma with fellow PIPESTONE Veterinarian, Dr. Emily McDowell. Emily has been with PIPESTONE for 9 years now and has a special interest in Mycoplasma. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen that has been an industry concern for over 50 years. It generally originates at the sow farm level and is a vertical disease meaning it’s transferred from sow to piglet. Emily continues to research Mycoplasma in hopes of increasing the success of elimination from sow herds. She and has given presentations to inform those in the swine industry of how it spreads, and the cost associated with it. Hear about all of this and more in this episode of SwineTime! PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care and how to enhance your produ

SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE’s President of Transport, Hal Schmidt. Hal is a long-time employee with PIPESTONE and transitioned to transportation 8 years ago. Pipestone Transport falls under the Management business unit and serves to help our Pipestone Management shareholders receive their wean pigs, transport our managed barn’s sows and much more. Developed out of necessity for biosecurity and route flexibility, Pipestone Transport currently has 7 hubs across the Midwest. Each hub consists of a truck wash and some locations have drying buildings to store trailers and protect them from the weather. Our Pipestone location washes about 20 trailers per day by our transport power washing team. Learn more about this critical sector of PIPESTONE in this episode of SwineTime Podcast. PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne,

Dr. Bryan Myers has gained quite the experience and wisdom from being a veterinarian for the last 34 years. In these years, he has seen the serious effects of various diseases that have infected the swine industry. He is now seeing APP, an old disease that has resurfaced after almost 20 years in some of the most hog-dense areas of the Midwest. SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, discusses what APP is, how serious the disease is, how it can affect your farm, what your treatment options look like, and what steps you can take to prevent APP from infecting your farm. APP, also known as Actinobacillus Pleuropneumonia, is a bacteria that can cause severe rapid onset of death loss and pneumonia type symptoms in pigs. This disease is not new to the industry and may be recognized by those who have been in the swine industry for some time now. It is becoming more relevant now, due to recent resurgence mainly found in Iowa. This disease can have serious health effects on your entire operation. APP is often spread

Tune in to this podcast to learn more about GreenStone Farms! GreenStone is an ownership investment offering facilitated by PIPESTONE to create and capture value for farmers in the U.S. carbon market.  As a farmer-owned company, GreenStone will take a common-sense approach to carbon farming, with a focus on positioning farmers for success in this new economic opportunity for their farms.