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Dr. Márcio Gonçalves opens up about his journey from Brazil, to North America and Kansas State University.  Touching on topics from the Swine IT Podcast, the concept, growth, evolution and the future. How he stays motivated, why being "paranoid" is good, his business take on the Swine Industry and what is next for his growing entity. 

About Our Guest

Dr. Márcio Gonçalves graduated in Veterinary Medicine from a leading university in Brazil. After working in commercial swine production, he pursued his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in Applied Swine Nutrition. 

Episode Details:

1. We discuss the National Swine Congress in Mexico

2. We discuss Genesus at the British Pig & Poultry Fair

3. Preview of the World Pork Expo

4. Summary of Global Pork Production

Randy Curless is one of those “lifer’s” with an old school mentality  and passion for the Pork Industry. Wining family farm of the year  awards, presidency of Indiana Pork, and one of the Pioneers for social  media in our Industry Randy still exudes just as much passion today as  we work’s with Producers as the Producer service manager with Pig Tek.

We discuss:

1. How in the 2009/2010 time frame he was one of the first Producer advocates on Social Media who paved the way for others.

2. We discuss how he is proud of the family farm heritage, and a family rich in Agriculture success in Wabash Indiana .

3. We look about what prompted the change from being a Producer and now how he is the Producer Services Manager at Pig Tek.

4. We discuss State organizations and his tenure as  President of the Indiana Pork Producers association.

4. We discuss with the Producers Randy works with  what are the biggest challenges they are facing?

5.Reflection time. We ask Randy what is one thing you would do the same and one thing different in this era as a  Pork Producer?

6. We discuss mentor’s and role models

7. War in Ukraine, ASF, Covid , Market prices? Which current  disastrous event do you think has affected you, our industry, and will  have the longest-term repercussions?

8. We discuss a story about Jim Long that reflects years ago when Randy remembers him visiting the Family Farm.

9. For the first time in a public setting we reveal Randy’s nick name, something only myself and his family knew.

10. Final wrap. We are approaching that time in the industry with a  “new Guard” and evolution coming in. Do you think the key to success in  the Pork Industry is establishing “strong relationships” or are our  ideas and value we come with should hold weight in success?

Nationally, Curless has served on the Checkoff’s Pork Safety  Committee and is a graduate of the Pork Leadership Academy. At the state  level, he was a member of the Indiana Pork Producers Association  serving as president in 2009 and serving as Indiana Pork’s  representative to U.S.M.E.F. for 4 years. In 2011 Curless represented  Indiana Pork and traveled with a group of Indiana businessmen on a trade  mission to China with the Lt. Governor. Locally he was a member of the  Wabash County Pork Producers, Wabash County Soil and Water District  Advisory Board, and Wabash County Extension Board as well as being a  Wabash County Councilman for 12 years, and currently serves on the  Wabash County Area Plan Commission.

Curless sold his swine operation in 2017 and currently works with  PigTek, the swine division of CTB, Inc, as their Producer Services  Manager.

Producer Panel:

Discussion Points:

Final Wrap:

Luke Minion, Chairman of the Board of Wholestone Foods talks about the  petition from the Sioux Falls group and how it will hurt local farmers,  how it creates a double standard whereby the current Smithfield plant in  Sioux Falls can expand within city limits, but Wholestone foods is  permitted from building at a currently owned and properly zoned site. He  leads further addressing that those asked to sign the petition that  those people contact Whole Stone Foods directly. Luke finishes in  addressing he is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Sioux  Falls community and is confident the expansion will be a great long-term  addition.

Sawyer Whisler from This’LL Do Farms in Southeast Iowa joins the Swine Web Podcast.  His strong opinions lead to a “Hot Take” about the threat of Cell Cultured Meat and how this could pivot how the industry functions. As a triple threat (a term known in Hollywood circles) Sawyer is a Farmer, Producer, and Host of his own media company and Podcast called Barn Talk. This incredible Podcast is hosted in their own studio (Family Barn) with live guests and candid banter which is unique to our Industry and growing each week. Sawyer summarizes so many key points, but you won’t want to miss what he would do if he was in charge of the National Pork Producers council or a Swine Leadership group. He has a large-scale/ambitious plan to eventually sell his own brand of Pork direct to consumer which showcases fluid forward thinking.  Articulate, bold, brash and astute are all positive takeaways knowing that our future is in good hands with Sawyer.

1. We talk about his slogan for his popular Barn Talk Post "We are just trying to do some soon in the World. We discuss the podcast; how authentic it is and what's next.

2. Sawyer gives his story and family Farm History. We discuss Hog Farming, You-tubing, and what was the defining moment to being a triple threat.

3. We discuss the title "Just One Whisler" in reference to him and his Dad usually tag teaming on media together. The mentor ship of his Dad Tork, Who is the real decision maker, where he sees Hog Farming evolving over the next 5 years, something people do not know about him along with diversification and what he would do if he was the Voice for the NPPC or a Swine leadership group.

4. The Sawyer 3. Sawyer lists the top three things that breed success for him as a A) Hog Producer and C) Media Personality

5. We discuss how his team and the industry can we better Producers and stewards overall for our Industry. We touch base on consolidation and where this is heading

6. We talk about his marketing approach and how it is effective to show consumers about our industry about what actually happens in a Barn and on a Farm operation

7. Rapid Fire Questions -Are you looking to sell your own Bacon? -The best part of being a Pig Farmer is? -The worst part of being a Pig Farmer is?

8.We discuss the biggest obstacle and observation ahead for his operation.

9. Hot Take, the concern over a company like Tyson cutting out the Producer/Packer and selling Cell Cultured Meat.

10. Sawyer's vision. Sawyer outlines his goals and leadership approach he plans on leveraging to thrive in the future

Sawyer Whisler is a 22-year-old 6th generation farmer and entrepreneur from southeast Iowa. He started a personal brand around his family farm where he and his dad Tork document their day to day lives as farmers to the world through social media called This’ll Do Farm. He also is one of the hosts of the Barn Talk podcast.

Episode Details:

1. We discuss U.S Pork Cut-Outs moving higher

2. Avian Flu Summary

3. China’s Hog Industry

4. Europe’s Hog Industry

5. Jim’s first point out of 10 on Better Tasting Pork

Episode Details:

1. The relentless decline of the U.S Breeding Herd continues

2. High Feed Costs, Labor shortages, disease issues, increased building costs

3. Overestimation from the Chicken Little Economists

4. Prop 12

5. Jim’s stand out moment in mentorship or travel with his son Spencer.

Spencer Long is one of Jim Long's son's from Genesus Genetics. 

In this  candid interview we discuss many aspects of the Swine Industry.  

-His father Jim Long as a mentor, and the business/home life  relationship.

-His background, story, and graduation story from Queen's University  (Coinciding with the World Pork Expo). 

 -Traveling on the road, what surprised him the most, the great Kalmbach  Feed event ,  what he has learned, and top three memorable moments.

-What made Spencer interested in the Swine Genetics Industry -Spencer's style compared to his father Jim Long.

-Will the World Mega Producer return in 2022? -Spencer's opinion on the hot topics "Better Tasting Pork".

-What Spencer has learned the most at Genesus and what he strives to  learn. 

-Spencer's vision for the future at Genesus.

Spencer Long is a second-generation member of Genesus. Currently, he is responsible for administrative operations and does the Canadian Global Market for Genesus. Spencer has traveled extensively with Genesus and met thousands of producers and other industry people around the world. Spencer is a graduate of Queen’s University and resides in Ontario. Spencer looks forward to continually be part of Genesus and use his skills to help the company grow.

You will not want to miss this conversation with Dr Scott Dee as we  congratulate him on the  2022 Pork Industry Distinguished Service Award  recipient!  We touch on several key topics in the Pork Industry, you can  find a summary below:   

-What this honor means 

-Who Scott recognizes in light of this accomplishment 

-Scott's mentors and role models 

-Scott's story which began in 1983 at the University of Minnesota  College of Veterinary medicine  

-Scott's career at Pipestone from 2011, his current role and career  evolution 

-We talk about career up and down's 

-We discuss what inspired Scott early on and what continues to do so

 -Scott has a love for Canada, we address this 

-Scott has 170 papers published in peer-reviewed journals, can this get  to 200? -What has changed the most and stayed the same since you started as a  veterinarian? 

-Scott talks about his  efforts as Chair of the Admissions Committee at  the University of Minnesota College of Vet Medicine. 

-Problem solving is key in life, it is one of your key vet strengths and  attributes. Why is this vital? -Scott talks to us about his intuition to test ideas and design projects  to solve industry problems -

-Bio security, how several science-based protocols used today comes from  Scott's studies. 

-Is this the Pinnacle or your Career, and what is next to accomplish? 

-Do you have a key message or advice to aspiring veterinaries? 

-I want to know something today we haven’t heard, what is something we  need to be aware of on the horizon over the next 5 years for Livestock  Health to keep our eye on? 

-In the lead Bio we have a photo of you with a pig and another with your  Star Student, can you explain what this mean?  -This is your 5th decade in the industry for each decade, 80’s, 90’s,  00’s, 010’s, and now 2020’s name one key point that stands out in our industry or your practice.