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Plain honored with Distinguished Service Award at 2023 Pork Forum

Ron Plain, professor emeritus and extension economist in Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri- Columbia, was recognized as National Pork Board's Distinguished Service Award recipient at the 2023 Pork Forum.  

Plain, who started his career as a high school agricultural education instructor, spent most of his professional career focused on helping producers understand the economic forces related to their pork production business.  

His career in academia began just before the farm crisis and the major changes to the pork industry. During his 35 years as a professor and extension economist, Plain made more than 2,100 presentations to U.S. farm audiences and also traveled internationally, sharing his insight on how to manage pig farming as a business. 

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Why Water Quality Is the Forgotten Nutrient in Swine Production | Kanters Animal Health | WPX 2026

Video: Why Water Quality Is the Forgotten Nutrient in Swine Production | Kanters Animal Health | WPX 2026

Water is one of the most important—and often overlooked—nutrients in pork production.

In this interview from World Pork Expo 2026, Tommy from Kanters Animal Health explains how advanced water monitoring and dosing systems are changing swine research and helping producers better understand water intake, supplementation, and animal performance.

The discussion also covers practical steps producers can take today to monitor water quality, identify biofilm before it becomes a problem, and improve the health and efficiency of their barns.

Topics include:

Why water is the "forgotten nutrient" in swine production

How advanced water monitoring is transforming research

The role of water quality in pig health and performance

Detecting biofilm before it impacts production

Practical on-farm water management strategies