shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com March 20, 2018 • Page 3 2017 SD Master Pork Producers Recognized Climate Outlook Shows Cold Conclusion To Winter 2018 the sows better with less competition, and gilts are placed S.D. Master Pork Producers is a volunteer organization into their own pens. comprised of allied industry members who have the goals They also use hot water radiant heat to keep the pigs of recognizing outstanding pork producers and promoting warm. Wipf has four other people working with him on-site, pork production in South Dakota. BROOKINGS, S.D. - Colder than average temperatures are and there's an additional person who oversees the offsite The 2017 S.D. Master Pork Producers include: Dan likely to carry through March 2018, according to the latest barns and the feed mill. Rodas, Spencer; Lenny Wipf, Lakeview Colony, Lake Andes National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) CliPork production is done differently at Lakeview Colony. and Bruce Burkhart, Dell Rapids. The Honorary Master Pork mate Outlook released today, Feb. 15, 2018. They are part of an "Antibiotic Free Program" with NatuProducer is Jeri Westra, Smithfield, Lennox. "The last two weeks of February will likely be colder than ral Foods in Sioux Center, Iowa. Dell Rapids, was named a 2017 South Dakota Master average, and that pattern is likely to carry into March," exNot only are all diets free of antibiotics and animal-based plained Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist. Pork Producer and is one of three South Dakota pork producers recognized during the S.D. Master Pork Producer feed ingredients, but they also utilize pen gestation, and Edwards added that the northwestern states and Northfarrowing crates that are turned into farrowing pens three banquet held this January in Sioux Falls. ern Plains are all favored to be colder than average to end days after farrowing. The S.D. Master Pork Producers is a volunteer organizathe winter season. And, the winter drought of northern South With these unique circumstances, Wipf and his crew of tion comprised of allied industry members who have the Dakota appears likely to linger a while longer. Through the four are producing an impressive 29 pigs/sow/year, which goals of recognizing outstanding pork producers and proend of February, a relatively dry pattern will remain over takes a lot of extra management and skill. However, Wipf moting pork production in South Dakota. The other South the state. As March approaches, the dismal snowpack is a credits their success to the guys doing the work, saying Dakota honorees include: S.D. Master Pork Producers, concern. they all work together in a team effort. Lenny Wipf, Lakeview Colony, Lake Andes and Dan Rodas, "After warm temperatures on Valentine's Day melted much Also, Wipf utilizes Dr. Rob Fisher & Dr. Jon Ertl from Spencer and Honorary Master Pork Producer, Jeri Westra, of the low snowpack, brown ground has emerged again," Sioux Nation for nutrition and herd health advice. Smithfield, Lennox. Edwards said. "Without good snow cover, it is a challenge to Jeri Westra Burkhart originally started with a farrow-to-finish operarefill the dry stock ponds, replenish soil moisture and provide Westra grew up on diversified livestock operation in tion, and in 1998 built a 2,000-head, naturally ventilated moisture for ecosystems and wildlife habitat." southeast South Dakota. He is a graduate of South Dakota finishing barn. Looking ahead to the start of the 2018 spring season, State University. Following graduation, Westra started in the the NOAA Climate Outlook also showed a slightly higher It took seven meetings with Minnehaha County officials packing industry first working with IBP in the late 1970s. before being approved, but Burkhart approached the situlikelihood that western South Dakota could see some wetter He then went to worked for Cloughtery Pack, Los Angles conditions in March. ation as a teaching opportunity to educate local officials Ca. where he covered terminal markets, as well as buying on modern pork production. His efforts proved successful, "This would be great news for the drought-stricken area out of stations in Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado. Interbecause when he applied for a permit in 2008 to build a that is still carrying drought conditions from the last one to second 2,000-head mechanically ventilated finishing barn, it estingly, back then, the hogs were still loaded on rail cars two years," Edwards said. "Recent snowfall has prevented the and shipped to Los Angles. was approved the first meeting. area from getting much worse, but a lot of timely rains will be Wanting to return home, Westra then took a position Burkhart later switched to strictly finishing pigs so he needed this spring to provide substantial relief in the region." with Steele Siman Commission Company in the Sioux could to do a better job managing pigs and other enterprisFor the next three months, March through May, wetter Falls Stockyards. In 1984, Westra made the move across es. In 2012 he joined the Pipestone System. than average conditions are also slightly favored over the the street and started with John Morrell & Co as area Hog Today, he markets 8,000 pigs annually. The feed comes northern half of South Dakota. from the Edgerton feed mill. Burkhart utilizes split-sex feed- Buyer covering southeastern South Dakota. Since then, he Edwards explained that this is a critical period for pasture, ing and hot water heat from a wood-burning furnace to keep has held a variety of positions within the company. Westra range and forages. "This area was dry last year at this time, currently serves as the Director of Procurement for Sioux his pigs warm. which led into the severe drought during the growing seaHe believes that continual preventative maintenance and Falls Smithfield plant. son," she said. Since the plant harvests approximately 19,500 pigs per paying attention to details EVERY day is what makes them The spring season is projected to bring warmer temperaday and more than 5.5 million pigs each year, Westra and successful. In 2017, the pigs in his barns had a 1.58 pound tures as well, as colder temperatures recede to the northwest his crew are kept very busy. However, Westra still maintains states. "At this time, South Dakota has equal chances of average daily gain, a 2.53 feed efficiency, and a 4.79 percent a very close relationship with the pork producers of South wean-to-finish mortality. warmer, colder and near-average temperatures during the Along with sons Jase (full time) and Brandon (part time), Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. He views them next three months," Edwards said. more as family than clients. long time employee, Lenny Stahl, helps make a successful However, for much of the state, as we enter the 2018 growWestra serves the South Dakota pork industry in many team. Kim Morgan and Mike Vanden Bosch from Pipestone ing season, Edwards said it appears that drought may hold its ways outside the plant. He has serve as the Lincoln County grip for a while into the spring. System are Burkhart's main resources. 4-H swine superintendent, and has served for many years Burkhart is also an environmental steward. He applies "April and May will be more critical than in a typical year, on multiple committees of the Sioux Empire Farm Show. all the manure from the finishing barns on his own crop as the soils have very little moisture in reserve due to the dry Westra was instrumental in purchasing the current State ground. When soil phosphorus levels were getting high fall season last year," Edwards said. "On a positive note, there Fair 4-H Swine Show hogs - the show means a lot of work for seems to be low risk of spring flooding due to low snowpack on his ground close to the place, he trucked the manure 5 Westra and his team because they individually tattoo and miles away to another set of fields to make sure they were and dry soils in most of the state." weigh more than 500 4-H pigs, as well as write checks to the utilizing the manure in an environmentally sustainable way. The southeast corner is in the best condition, given near 4-H youth that are showing them. He also plants trees for odor control. normal snowfall and some soil moisture from last year's wet Westra is a supporter of the South Dakota Master Pork Not only is Burkhart an excellent pork producer, but in fall season. 2016 he was recognized by Ag United for South Dakota with Producers by having Smithfield Foods donate the pork M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y served to the 250-plus attendees of the annual banquet. the AgVocate of the Year award for his work on educating Also, he is a very proud Jackrabbit alumni and supports his policy makers and the general public on what a modern alma mater by having Smithfield Foods donate all the pork family farm looks like through the Adopt A Farmer program used at the SDSU Pork Classic basketball games, as well and testifying at local hearings. as the 20 pork bundles auctioned off. That support alone Dan Rodas provides at least $4,000 additional of scholarship money th Though growing up on a dairy farm in northeast Iowa, rd th December 2nd some 9th & 10th, 16 to SDSU students pursuing a career in& 3 , facet of pork & 17 • 1-3:00PM Rodas is a natural pig person and leader. production. He started with Pipestone Systems in 2002 and has Bring Your Cameras! Westra is very active in the Delaware Reformed Church, moved up rapidly, holding supervisory positions at multiple To place your ad call... and currently serves as a church elder. Also, he has served barns. He managed the first barn in the Pipestone System on the Board of Center of to wean 12 pigs per litter, and now has the best producing Hope Outreach Ministry, barn in their system weaning 35.78 pigs per sow per year. which does Christian misRodas leads by example and has high standards for sion work in downtown himself and his 18 employees. He believes this projects a "Will Do" attitude to his crew, and strives to develop a team Sioux Falls. •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks ........... $14.99 mentality. Also, Dan believes that you have to make the difficult, but right decisions. •Old Milwaukee & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 His philosophy appears •Miller High Life & Light 30 pks ........$13.99 to working because the farm also has a 92 percent farrow109 W. 3rd St. • 605-665-7865 * Yankton Meridian District * www.yanktonrexall.com ing rate, 15.7 pigs born live per litter, and has weaned 14-plus pigs per litter for 54 straight weeks. Currently they wean at 19 days of age, but plan to build more farrowing rooms and wean at 24 days of age to help the pigs get off to a stronger start at weaning. The feed for the farm comes from Central Farmers 301 E. 3rd Street, Yankton, SD in Montrose. 665-3588 Thunder Ridge utilizes DNA Genetics, and is also the highest producing farm in the DNA system. To protect the health of the animals, they follow a strict biosecurity plan, and replacement gilts are brought to the farm at weaning. Rodas believes that great protocols are essential to their success, and he also gives a lot of credit to Dr. Luke Minion, Dr. Scott VanderPoel, Dr. Emily McDowell and Jared Hemelstrand Update your roof now and Lenny Wipf Save Money Wipf started working with pigs in 2002 and has on repairs later! been the swine manager at Lakeview Colony since 2012. He was actively involved in the building of the original barn. The operation is a 1,000 ROOFS • GUTTERS sow, farrow-to-finish operaSIDING • AND MORE tion using Genesus genetics. There are 1,000 sows, 3,500 nursery pigs and 3,000 finishing pigs on-site. Offsite they have three, 1,000 head finishing barns and one, 2,400 head weanto-finish barn. Sows are bred in crates, but then put in gestation pens two days after breeding. Wipf and his crew sort females based on weight and backfat so they can manage MV Shopper CLASSIFIEDS IN PRINT & ONLINE 605.665.5884 Always LOW Liquor Prices! Sell us Your Stuff! Spring Cleaning We’ll buy almost anything! RIVERCITY Treasures & Pawn Participating Businesses Are… Spring brings flowers and plenty of showers! We INSTALL/RepAIR Roofs of ALL Kinds FRee Inspections & estimates Licensed / Bonded / Insured J&H Cleaning Services YANKTON WORKS Want your REAL-TIME MESSAGE on the most visited media website in the Yankton area? 407 Ruth Street, Yankton, SD Join our ‘Friends2Follow’ program! Contact your Yankton Media Representative today! 605-857-1472 (Yankton) 605-665-7811