MSU Extension to Host Healthy Animals, Strong Farms Biosecurity Webinar for Small Farms and Agricultural Service Providers

Mar 19, 2026

By Elizabeth Ferry

Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, will host the Healthy Animals, Strong Farms Biosecurity Training webinar on March 23, 2026, at 7 p.m. The session is part of a training series designed to help small farms and those who work directly with these farms better understand how to protect animal health and support resilient farm operations. Participants are asked to register for the webinar.

Biosecurity practices are essential for preventing the spread of disease and maintaining animal well-being, regardless of farm size, species or production model. This training will provide practical, real-world strategies that small farms and agricultural professionals can use when working with livestock farms throughout the state.

Participants will learn that everyday practices, such as managing downtime between farm visits, maintaining proper sanitation, coordinating visitor access, and improving livestock handling protocols can significantly reduce disease risk. The webinar will focus on simple steps that can be implemented on farms of all sizes, including small and diverse operations.

This training is especially relevant for agricultural service providers who work closely with small farms, beginning farmers, and historically underserved producers, including Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color (BIPOC). By strengthening biosecurity knowledge among those who support farms, the program aims to ensure that all producers have access to the practical tools that protect animal health and strengthen the long-term success of their operations.

“Strong biosecurity practices protect more than individual farms — they protect the entire agricultural community,” Mike Metzger, MSU Extension Educator, said. “By equipping agricultural service providers with the tools and knowledge to support farms of all types and backgrounds, we can help build a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture system across Michigan.”

Source : msu.edu

Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.