Curious about pork production? Plan to attend the 2016 Illinois Pork Expo breakout session “Contract Production Opportunities.” The session will be held on Wednesday, February 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The breakout session includes an integrator/farmer panel discussion on “Opportunities & Expectations for Contract Growers.” Panel members include:

• Matt Henry, The Maschhoffs

• Nick Biggs, TriOak Foods

• Jim Hinckly, JBS

• Phil Borgic, Borgic Farms

Other breakout session topics and presenters:

• Producer Experience Building a Barn: Bruce Brinkman, Brinkman Farms, Valmeyer, and Daron Duke, D & B Farms, Ursa.

LEARN ABOUT PIGS, and all things pig related: The Illinois Pork Expo is an information-filled event that offers financial, business and marketing information opportunities for attendees. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

• Lending Requirements for Contract Finishers: Mark Ray, 1st Farm Credit Services

• Fertilizer Values - Saving Money by Using Manure: Morgan Hayes, University of Illinois

The moderator for the entire session will be Nic Anderson, Illinois Livestock Development Group.

”Grain farmers have a great opportunity this year to find out firsthand how pork production contracts can directly complement their total farming operation. Whether building capital, managing labor cost, spreading and fixing risk or reducing their input cost with replacing commercial fertilizer with NPK from hog manure, this seminar is a one-stop-shop for discovering the opportunities in pork production in Illinois,” Anderson says.

The Illinois Pork Expo will be held February 16-17 in Springfield’s Prairie Capital Convention Center. Register online  or on site before January 27 for a discounted rate.