Join University of Illinois Extension for the first topic in the "Livestock Production and Principles for Beginners Webinar Series." Katie Bell, Local Foods Systems and Small Farms Extension Educator, will discuss "Getting Started with Swine" on Thursday, January 26 at 6 p.m.

This presentation will be a basic overview for those considering getting started in swine. During the session, we will review the basics of swine care, breed selection, and marketing considerations.

Swine care

o   Feed management

o   Infrastructure and housing

o   Manure management

Breed selection

o   Overview of breeds

o   Review your production goals

Marketing considerations

o   Resources and laws

o   Products to sell

Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, Grant McCarty, coordinated the series to help address the questions and the need in the community.  “These webinars are set up to provide an overview on best practices in getting started and for those who are raising to sell directly to consumers via farmers markets, websites, and other avenues,” states McCarty. “Many of the topics we will cover are ones we commonly get questions about at our Extension office and have provided programs on previously. However, we’ve seen a number of new farmers in the last 5 years reach out to our office looking for some of these topics to be more beginner/introduction.”