Welcome to the Barn
Dear IPPA member,

Welcome back to Barn Talk Bulletin. Here is your monthly update.
GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH IPPA
PRODUCER DONATIONS

Thanks to donations from pig farmers and support of various partners, Pork Power has provided more than 922,000 pounds of pork, amounting to more than 3 MILLION servings, to hungry Illinois residents since the program began in 2008. Food banks across Illinois work with our association to accept donations and distribute to families throughout the state.
The annual Pork Power campaign runs January through October or until funds are exhausted.

There are two ways a producer can participate:
1.  Donate pigs/sows directly to a participating processor
2.  Donate the cash value of any pigs/sows sold at market locations
*Download the donation form HERE

For a list of local food pantries, click here.
*This is a voluntary list that we have been curating through submissions from our membership. If you have local pantries to add, please submit them here.

PORK POWER T-SHIRT SALES

You can snag the 2021 Pork Power themed t-shirt online here.

Each $20 donation earns you a t-shirt! Includes shipping. Adult sizes only at this time.

Consider purchasing shirts for your whole team! Proceeds go directly towards ground pork.
RECENT DONATION EVENT

On April 19th, IPPA, along with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff Program, presented Eastern Illinois Foodbank with 4,100 pounds of ground pork on behalf of a campaign tied to the University of Illinois Men's Basketball season. Read more about it here.
SPONSOR LOCAL EVENTS

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.
 
COMMUNITY CO-OP

Currently, IPPA offers a program with matching co-op dollars to assist individual pig farmers, county pork producer groups and a variety of other types of organizations to be more positively involved and visible in their communities. The Illinois Pork Community Outreach Co-op Program will match up to $250 for the purchase of pork products. APPLY HERE.

SWINE SHOW SPONSORSHIPS

The IPPA Youth & Education Committee would like to offer support to new and alternative swine shows that are taking place across the state. IPPA values youth in the swine industry and would like to show our support for their dedication to the species. Sponsorships of up to $250 may be awarded per show, on a first come first served basis, as funds remain available. APPLY HERE.

INDUSTRY TOPICS
Tremendous Momentum for U.S. Pork in Central America
By USMEF April 20, 2021

Despite COVID-19-related challenges, U.S. pork exports to Central America set a new record in 2020 and are off to a terrific start this year. Through February, exports to the region increased 46% from a year ago to nearly 22,000 metric tons, valued at more than $53 million (up 38%). February exports were record-large to Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica, while exports to Honduras were the fourth highest on record, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Read more HERE
Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?
By JENNIFER SHIKE April 19, 2021

“Suck it up buttercup.” This familiar phrase is one many farmers and ranchers learn early in life: be tough, self-reliant and resilient. 
Although those aren’t bad traits, Shannon Ferrell, an ag law specialist at Oklahoma State University, said that line of thinking can cause us to become inward-facing and discourages us to talk about our feelings. 
“Having a mental health issue can be quite stigmatizing,” Ferrell shared during the Online Top Producer Summit. “There’s a fear of being misunderstood, invalidated or judged. We think it’s better to battle in silence.”
But it’s not. Talking about how you feel can head off problems before they become issues.
  1. Why Is Farming So Stressful? 
  2. How Did COVID-19 Change Things?
  3. Confront Reality
  4. Support Your Friends

Read more HERE.
IPPA Producer Video Series Continued

Since the Expo Video Series had such a great response, we will be adding more videos to our website throughout the year for your benefit. 

Jen Sorenson of Iowa Select Farms, and NPPC President, shares her expertise in the areas of public relations, communication and employee management. If you are a farm owner or farm manager, this video will especially benefit you.
You can find all of the producer series videos on ilpork.com listed under the "Farm Resources" tab.
Share Barn Talk Bulletin with you employees or fellow pork producers and encourage them to subscribe at the link above.