2026 Iowa Swine Day to Bring Industry Leaders, Researchers and Pork Producers Together in Ames
AMES, Iowa — Pork producers, swine veterinarians, researchers, nutritionists and industry professionals from across the country will gather in Ames later this month for the highly anticipated 2026 Iowa Swine Day, one of the pork industry’s premier educational and networking events.
Hosted by Iowa State University, the annual conference will take place on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. The event is designed to provide practical information, cutting-edge research updates and industry insights focused on helping pork producers improve production efficiency, animal health, workforce management and profitability.
Organizers say Iowa Swine Day continues to be built around the needs of today’s pork industry by gathering input from producers representing a broad cross-section of U.S. swine production. The conference has become a valuable forum for sharing research findings, discussing emerging technologies and exploring solutions to challenges facing pork producers.
This year’s program has been approved for 9.25 veterinary continuing education units (CEUs), making it an important opportunity for swine veterinarians and animal health professionals.
Registration is $115 per person and includes access to the full conference program as well as the pre-conference networking social. Attendance is limited to the first 450 registrants.
The day begins with opening remarks from Dr. David Cook, President of Iowa State University, followed by a keynote presentation from Steve Lerch, President of Story Arc Consulting, titled “Innovation Leadership: Embracing a Culture of Collaboration, Curiosity, and Speed.”
One of the featured presentations will be the Lauren Christian Lecture on Swine Management and Genetics, where Dr. Mike Paustian, President of Paustian Enterprises, will discuss “Gene Editing: A Producer Perspective.”
Additional morning sessions include Dr. Dhamu Thamodaran, retired Smithfield Foods executive and StoneX board member, presenting “Pork Industry Success, Challenges, Future Challenges and Opportunities – Four Decades of My Observations.” Attendees will also hear from Todd Thurman, CEO of Swine Insights International, who will discuss the “Practical Application of Artificial Intelligence in Swine Production.”
The afternoon program offers attendees the option of selecting either applied production sessions or research-focused presentations.
Applied Production Sessions
Brian Blumhagen, Director of Operations at Altenburg Construction, will present “How to Decide What to Do and When With Your Facility.”
Dr. Bo Williams, Nutritionist with Seaboard Foods, will discuss “Feed Bin Sensor Technology: A Data-Driven Approach to Operational Efficiencies.”
Samantha DeWitt, Co-Owner of AgVice, will address nutrient management and environmental compliance during her presentation, “Manure Matters: Maximizing Nutrient Value While Navigating Regulations.”
Mag Lopez, Swine Field Livestock Specialist with the University of Missouri, will provide workforce insights through “How to Retain Your TN-Visa Workers? A Research and Experience-Based Approach.”
BJ Brugman, CEO of Distynct, will present “The Groundhog Day Model,” while Lane Danielson, Principal and Practice Leader with TrueNorth Companies, will conclude the applied track with “How to Get Control of Your Insurance Program.”
Swine Research Sessions
The research track begins with Dr. Omarh Mendoza, Director of Nutrition for The Maschhoffs, presenting “When Research Meets Reality: Lessons Learned from Commercial-Scale Nursery Pig Research.”
Dr. Hyatt Frobose, Commercial Director for North America at JYGA Technologies, will discuss sow productivity during his presentation, “There Are No ‘Average’ Sows.”
Dr. Dalton Humphrey, Research Assistant Professor at Iowa State University, will share insights on nutrient efficiency in “Improving Nutrient Utilization Efficiency in Swine: Current Approaches and Emerging Insights.”
Water quality and herd performance will be the focus of Dr. Gabi Doughan, Technical Project Specialist with Iowa State University’s Swine Medicine Education Center, during her presentation, “Maximizing Herd Health and Performance Through Effective Water System Management.”
Animal welfare and enrichment strategies will be discussed by Dr. Anna Johnson, Morrill Professor at Iowa State University, in “Let’s Play: Can We Use an Enrichment Toy for Gilts and Sows in U.S. Systems?”
The research track concludes with Dr. Brett Ramirez, Associate Professor at Iowa State University, presenting “Spatiotemporal Characterization of Manure Temperature and Its Implications for Methane Generation in Deep-Pit Swine Barns.”
With topics ranging from artificial intelligence and gene editing to manure management, workforce retention, herd health, sow productivity and facility management, the 2026 Iowa Swine Day agenda reflects many of the most pressing issues facing today’s pork industry.
The event continues to serve as a valuable resource for pork producers seeking practical solutions, research-based knowledge and opportunities to connect with industry experts while helping shape the future of U.S. swine production.
Registration remains open, but space is limited to the first 450 participants.