SwineTime with Pipestone

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) remains one of the most costly and challenging diseases facing the U.S. pork industry. In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast , Pipestone veterinarians Dr. Spencer Wayne, Dr. Cameron Schmitt, Dr. Joel Nerem, and Dr. Adam Schelkopf discuss new findings that reinforce a critical but often overlooked factor in PRRS prevention: sow farm location ....

In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast , host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Dr. Bob Thaler of South Dakota State University (SDSU) and President of Pipestone Service, Hannah Walkes, for an in-depth discussion on the future of higher education in agriculture and what it means for the next generation of ag professionals. With nearly 40 years of experience in animal science, extension, and agricul...

In this episode of SwineTime , host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Pipestone Nutritionist, Dr. Ethan Stas, to break down key takeaways from the Midwest Animal Science Conference — widely regarded as the “Super Bowl” for swine nutrition professionals. With dozens of rapid-fire research presentations packed into a single event, Ethan distills the most relevant insights into practical, on-farm applic...

In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Adam Schelkopf, Pipestone veterinarian and partner, for a candid discussion on air filtration in wean‑to‑market pig barns and where it realistically fits into today’s PRRS control strategies. PRRS continues to be one of the most challenging and costlydiseases in pork production. While air filtration has been successfully...

In this episode of the Swine Time Podcast , host Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes fellow Pipestone veterinarian Dr. Evan Koep to break down key takeaways from the 2026 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Conference. Fresh from Las Vegas, Dr. Koep shares the most important discussions influencing today’s U.S. swine industry — including disease management trends, emerging technology,...

On this episode of the Swine Time Podcast, host and swine veterinarian Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Erin Little, Director of Farm Stats and nutrition enthusiast, to discuss why pork is one of the most protein-efficient, high-quality protein sources available today. Together, they explore how pork can be a lean, affordable, family-friendly staple, breaking down the science behind protein intake...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast , staff veterinarian Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by fellow veterinarian and former partner, Dr. Jean Paul Cano, for a discussion on African Swine Fever (ASF). Dr. Cano is a swine veterinarian originally from Venezuela who completed his PhD in Minnesota and spent years working in U.S. production systems before relocating to Spain with his family. Now practic...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, staff veterinarian and Pipestone Holdings owner Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by fellow veterinarian and partner Dr. Joseph Yaros for a practical discussion on one of the most critical aspects of swine production: identifying sick pigs early and responding appropriately. The conversation centers on real-world, barn-level observations that help producers and...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Damon Vander Maten, Director of FarmBooks at Pipestone, to dig into one of the biggest questions farm families face: When is the right time to reinvest in your farm assets? Damon brings extensive experience analyzing farm financials,helping producers make sense of balance sheets, debt loads, cash flow, and long-term pl...

In this episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Hayden Kerkaert, Director of Pig Sales & Marketing for Pipestone Management, to break down the current weaned pig market and what it means for producers across the country. Hayden shares practical insights on what drives pig value, pricing,and performance. The weaned pig market has stayed strong longer than manyexpected. Unlike past short-term...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, host and veterinarian Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with fellow veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Stika-Jensen and veterinary intern, Emma Zwart, to take a closer look at what it’s really like to participate in a veterinary internship within the swine industry. Together, they share practical insights for students, parents, swine veterinarians, and pig producers who w...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, host and swine veterinarian, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Kim VanderWaal from the University of Minnesota to tackle a complex but critical topic for pig farmers: PRRS virus classification . Dr. VanderWaal is an associate professor in Veterinary Population Medicine with expertise in swine disease ecology, epidemiology, and big data research. She has...

In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Paul Frahm, Director of Research Operations, about how research can help pig farmers make practical, informed decisions on their farms. Paul shares his background in the swine industry, starting in sow barns in Iowa before moving into research more than a decade ago. Today, he leads a team that focuses on answering real qu...

What happens when you’ve got feed left in the bin after the pigs leave the barn? In this episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by experts Emily Radcliffe of Pipestone Nutrition and Kim Morgan with FarmPro, to talk through practical options—and potential pitfalls—of handling leftover feed. From when it’s safe to blend feed for the next group to when it needs to come out of the bin entirely, this con...

Ileitis might be one of the most common gut diseases in pigs—but that doesn’t mean it has to take a toll on your herd or your bottom line. In this episode of SwineTime , Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. AJ Smit to unpack the real-world impact of ileitis and how producers can get ahead of it. From catching sub-clinical signs in the barn to making sense of diagnostics and choosing the right vacc...

On this episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined byDr. Kiah Berg from Pipestone Nutrition and Erin Little from FarmStats to dig into how wean age affects pig growth , feed efficiency , market weights , and sow productivity . They share real-world data and tips to help you make smart, profitable decisions on your farm. Evaluating your weaningstrategy could be the key to improving swine hea...

Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Carly Bates, a soon-to-be college graduate, to discuss what young professionals look for in agriculture careers and how employers can stand out. They cover the importance of mentorship, networking, and communication, as well as the strong sense of community in the swine industry. Carly shares insights on stepping outside comfort zones, building connections, and why...

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, Dr. Spencer Waynewelcomes futurist and author, Jack Uldrich, along with Hannah Walkes, President of Pipestone Services to discuss how swine producers can prepare for an ever-changing future. Jack shares insights from his "BIG AHA" framework—Awareness, Humility, and Action—helping farmers stay ahead of emerging trends that will impact their operat...

In this episode of the SwineTime , Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Damon Vander Maten, Director of FarmBooks, an offering of Pipestone Business Services, to discuss the crucial role of risk management in farming and how financial discipline can make or break an operation. They explore the pitfalls of emotional decision-making, the importance of maintaining a consistent strategy, and the financial...

In the latest episode of the SwineTime podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne takes a deep dive into the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP), joined by experts Drs. Tyler Holck, Tom Wetzell, and Vienna Brown, all of whom play key roles within the program. U.S. SHIP is a voluntary program designed to safeguard, improve, and represent the health status of swine across participating farm sites, sup...

In this continuation of our discussion on succession planning, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down again with Jim Marzolf of Pipestone Business Services to dive deeper into building the next generation of family farm leaders. While the first episode focused on family dynamics, this part tackles the structural and strategic elements of succession, including organizational roles, accountability, and le...

In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast , Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Jim Marzolf, Executive Vice President of Pipestone Business Services, to discuss a topic that hits close to home for many farm families: succession planning. Passing the torch to the next generation isn’t just about keeping the farm running—it’s about protecting a legacy. Jim shares practical tips and stories from his year...

In the latest episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. Joel Nerem from PIPESTONE and Nikki Stolberg from New Roots Haiti, an organization doing incredible work to improve the lives of people in and around a small Haitian village. Together, they dive into the amazing ways New Roots Haiti is tackling poverty, hunger, and social challenges through sustainable farming, education...

In this SwineTime episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with UK swine veterinarian, Dr. Alex Thomsett, and explores the ins and outs of UK pig farming. Dr. Thomsett shares how UK farms operate under very different rules: weaning at 28 days, tail docking restrictions, minimal castration, and higher welfare standards. Each of these regulations creates unique challenges—and opportunities—that shape th...

In the latest SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne chats with Alex Kremer, FarmPro’s new Market Sales Manager, about the crucial role pig selection plays in boosting profits. Kremer shares insights on how selling pigs at the right weight and at the right time can make a big financial difference for farmers. They break down key terms like coefficient of variance (CV) and standard deviation and...