Farms.com Home   News

Pork Checkoff Commits $500,000 to Develop Highly Trained Industry Professionals

The National Pork Board has opened the application period for a new series of swine research fellowships to provide a pipeline of highly skilled employees for the pork industry. The Pork Checkoff has committed a total of $500,000 for the fellowships, which will fund professional student education and training in critical areas of impact, including animal science, feed science and management, engineering and human resources, among many others.

“Labor supply is a critical issue across the entire pork industry,” said David Newman, president of the National Pork Board and a pig farmer representing Arkansas. “This fellowship program will develop highly trained professionals who possess skills and abilities with direct application to pork production now and in the future.”

According to Chris Hostetler, director of animal science for the National Pork Board, past Checkoff research funding supported graduate students based on specific research priorities.

“While results of swine-related research is not the desired outcome of these fellowships, the Pork Checkoff recognizes that research is a critical component of professional student training,” Hostetler said. “Research outlined in the proposal must be of importance for the pork industry.”

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Dream Projects Made Real | BX Summer Contest Winner Stories

Video: Dream Projects Made Real | BX Summer Contest Winner Stories



Three women. Three properties. Three summers that changed everything.

Meet the 2025 Kubota BX Summer Contest winners — and watch what happened when their biggest plans finally had the power to match them.

Akesh transformed her 9.8-acre property in just 3 months — clearing a historic barn, building a cottage garden, and growing vegetable beds for her family. Kathleen rebuilt her yard from the ground up after the 2023 wildfires devastated her property — creating a space where her children could play and grow again. Teresa reclaimed her family's 97-acre Ontario farm — moving topsoil, restoring fields, and honouring her mother's memory one season at a time.

Three dream projects. Three stories of vision, resilience, and hard work. One unforgettable summer with a Kubota BX.

"The BX made everything happen so quick." — Akesh "I feel like I can make a huge difference." — Kathleen "It's a dream come true. The answer to my prayers." — Teresa