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Dear IPPA member,

Welcome back to Barn Talk Bulletin.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Phase 1B Includes Agriculture
It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t know COVID-19 existed. Now when people say “virus,” we know what they mean. The impact of COVID-19 on our lives, our work, our activities, and our freedom has affected us all.

You’ve kept our company and industry running through one of the most challenging times in our history. The responsibility is ours, as a community, to help stop this virus. Now we have a new, safe, and effective tool to help us do that - a COVID-19 vaccine.

WHERE TO GET VACCINATED

We encourage you to contact your local public health department in the county you work in. Local health departments are now making appointments for Phase 1B individuals. This includes food and agriculture employees.

IDPH VACCINATION DATA

Additionally, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has added a vaccination data dashboard to their website. Information includes total Illinois doses/total administered doses, vaccine administration 7-day rolling average and by individual county information.


8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE:
Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal's PORK

"Pork producers are among the food and agriculture worker segment encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine because they play a critical role in ensuring food security. Whether you work in a swine barn or manage a team on the front lines of the pork industry, it’s important to keep in communication with your state pork association or state and local public health department to determine when you or your employees can receive the vaccine. 

The National Pork Board shares eight important things the swine industry should know about the COVID-19 vaccine."




Game Day Pork & Chile Wraps

The countdown to the big game begins! Protein isn’t just for the players. For a nutritious appetizer, try these Game Day Pork & Chile Wraps!

Find the entire recipe HERE!
LATEST UPDATES

Stop Chasing, Get Out in Front: SHIC Reports on 2020 Progress

Monitoring. Targeted Research. Analysis. The three main charges of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) haven’t changed throughout the past five years, but the stakes continue to get higher as foreign animal disease threats put increased pressure on the U.S. swine industry. 

COMING UP

In lieu of the in-person event, IPPA will be hosting a four-week producer focused video series during the month of February. See dates and speakers below:

February 3: NATIONAL PORK BOARD UPDATES REGARDING AGVIEW & ANIMAL HEALTH
Speakers: Bill Even: CEO and Dave Pyburn, DVM: Chief Veterinarian

February 10: INS AND OUTS OF BARN MAINTENANCE: BEST PRACTICES TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER 
Speaker: Steve Matthis: Training Director, Prestage Farms Inc

February 17: COMMODITY & INGREDIENT HEDGING (CIH) MARKET UPDATE 
Speaker: Dustin Baker: Manager, Education and Research

February 24: POLITICAL DISCUSSION HOW WILL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IMPACT THE PORK INDUSTRY AND CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT? *IPPA/SIP MEMBER ONLY
Speakers: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Andrew Fisher: Congressional Relations, NPPC, and Karla Thieman: Russell Group
Community Outreach Co-op Funding

Giving back to our local communities continues to be a top priority for Illinois pig farmers. Over the years, the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has supported many activities to promote the pork industry to local communities.
 
Currently, IPPA offers a program that will match up to $250 for the purchase of pork products. Learn more here.