Apply for PorkBridge, SowBridge
AMES (IPIC) – Registrations for two distance education programs for specific segments of the pork industry are open through Iowa State University.
SowBridge, for people who work with boars, sows and their litters, begins its eighth year, and PorkBridge, for those affiliated with grow-finish facilities, begins its 10th year, both in February 2016.
Registrations for both programs are due Jan. 10, to ensure participants receive materials in time for the first session of each program.
These include:
- SowBridge: Registration is $250 for the 12-session program year. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes long, and are on the first Wednesday of each month beginning at 11:30 a.m.
- PorkBridge: Registration is $125 for six sessions delivered on an every-other-month basis. These sessions are approximately 90 minutes long, and begin at noon on the first Thursday of the specified months.
ISU animal science professor and Extension swine specialist Ken Stalder said comments and suggestions from subscribers help maintain the value of both programs for future participants.
“These programs provide our subscribers with the opportunity to hear directly from experts on topics of current interest, and to contact those experts following the individual sessions,” Stalder said. “We are also pleased to announce the registration fee has not changed for either program.”
Both program registration fees provide access to one phone line per session and all program materials for each registration, Stalder said.
Program costs are slightly different for those with non-U.S. mailing addresses, and potential subscribers from outside the U.S. are encouraged to contact Sherry Hoyer at Iowa Pork Industry Center at (515) 294-4496 for more information.
Iowa residents who want more information on either program can call IPIC at (800) 808-7675.
Before each session, subscribers will receive an email message with links to download the materials for that session.
Most participants will call a toll-free conference line to listen to and interact with presenters, and the audio portions of all sessions for both programs are recorded.
Links to download those recordings are sent to all subscribers of the respective program after each session.
SowBridge and PorkBridge are sponsored by a group of 11 state universities, including ISU, from the major swine producing states.