Minnesota Pork Congress, the state's only swine specific tradeshow and educational pork producer event, will be Jan. 20-21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The tradeshow hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The tradeshow will feature 150 companies exhibiting equipment and services specifically geared towards pork producers and pork production and 15 seminars will provide information on current swine-related production and management topics. Admission is $10 per person, if received by Jan. 5, and $15 per person at the door. Children age 12 and under are free.

A manure applicator recertification workshop will be from noon to 5 p.m. on January 20. Manure Applicators Workshop sessions will be Best Practices in Manure Application, Regulations and Feedlot Rules Update, Roads, Bridges and Implements of Husbandry, Total Maximum Daily Loading and Biosecurity and the Business of Manure Application. This workshop will satisfy continuing education requirements for certified manure applicators.

Topics being covered in additional seminars on Wednesday the 20th are Transport Quality Assurance Certification, Market Outlook, PRRS Eradication Update, Farming Your Online Community, Pork's Carbon Footprint, Twitter Techniques for Ag Tweeps and Tweets, NPDES Permit Updates, Pork Trade Update and Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification.

Producer education seminars begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. Seminars will be Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification, State Legislative Update, Understanding Wean-Pig Crush Margins, Pork and Beans and Improving Euthanasia Methods.

The Minnesota Pork Board will recognize its Minnesota Pork Industry Award winners, retiring board members and Operation Main Street speakers at an awards reception Jan. 19 at the Minneapolis Hilton.

Pork production is Minnesota's leading agricultural industry, annually accounting for nearly 20% of the state's agricultural cash receipts. The gross income from the sale of Minnesota market pigs last year was over $2 billion and the total annual economic generation to the state was $7.6 billion.

Pre-registration and further seminar information is at www.mnpork.com/porkcongress or by calling Minnesota Pork office at (507) 345-8814. Pork Congress is sponsored by the Minnesota Pork Producers Association.