Anyone interested in pork production is urged to attend the 2011 World Pork Expo, June 8-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. It's the world's largest pork-specific trade show, and it features the newest in hog production technologies, outstanding swine breeding stock and educational seminars packed with information you can take home and use on your farm.

Nearly 20,000 producers and industry professionals attend the expo each year. This year you can attend seminars on profitability, animal health and current issues of interest to producers. Attendees can also see and learn about the newest products, services and technologies offered by more than 450 commercial exhibitors. You can talk one-on-one with company representatives about their products.

Many interesting things to see and do at 2011 World Pork Expo

You'll also have the opportunity to watch junior showmen and swine breeders exhibit some of the best market hogs and breeding animals available anywhere. Last but not least, throughout the three-day event, you can feast on great food and enjoy family entertainment.

The expo trade show is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 8 and 9, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 10. The breeding stock sales will continue on Saturday June 11, from 8 a.m. until they're completed at approximately 12 noon.

Several pre-expo agricultural tours are being offered this year

Several pre-expo tours are planned. The Midwest Agriculture Highlights Tour is June 6-7 and will take participants to see and tour the locks-and-dams system on the Mississippi River. This group will also visit a local soybean farm and the John Deere Pavilion agricultural museum in the Quad Cities area.

Two one-day tours are also available. On June 6, Iowa agriculture tour participants will go to a Christensen Farms feed mill, visit one of the Midwest's largest food distribution companies and tour Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the ISU Meats Laboratory at Ames.

The Iowa Agribusiness tour on June 7 features stops at Swine Genetics International's boar-reproduction facility. This group will also visit Kemin Industries, a nutritional ingredient manufacturer in Des Moines, and Pioneer Hi-Bred, a leading developer and supplier of seed and advanced plant genetics.

For more information about the 2011 World Pork Expo, the schedule of events, or to register for the World Pork Expo online, go to www.worldpork.org.