The 2026 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference wrapped up on Tuesday, and attendees returned to their daily work with new questions raised during formal presentations and hallway conversations.
On Monday, the first keynote speaker, Chad Groves, President and CEO of Seaboard Foods, challenged the audience to change how the industry approaches pork demand. He argued that increasing demand means putting the consumer, rather than the producer, at the center of strategy. The shift may take decades, he said, but the best time to start is now.
Dr. Joel Nerem shared Pipestone’s latest findings from its ongoing cost-of-disease project. His talk emphasized the importance of wean-to-market biosecurity and outlined a path toward next-generation pig health, with a focus on relocating sow farms to low-density areas with filtered buildings and strengthening biosecurity in the downstream flow.
The Swine Disease Eradication Center marked its 25th anniversary, reflecting on the industry’s past success eliminating Classical Swine Fever and pseudorabies. Drawing on those experiences, speakers discussed potential partners and strategies for eliminating PRRSV and PEDV.
The DVM student session featured a range of projects, from artificial intelligence applications in barns to astrovirus 4 prevalence and new Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae sampling methods. The winner of the 2026 Morrison Swine Innovator Prize, Molly Jones of North Carolina State University, presented a technique for visualizing and evaluating water medication delivery using a color gradient.
Between the keynotes, attendees chose from a full slate of breakout sessions. Monday morning covered managing contemporary PRRSV variants, VDL case reviews, lactation and large-litter management, and the industry’s response to New World Screwworm. After lunch, sessions turned to herd-closure strategies, advancing pork consumption, enteric disease in nursing and post-weaning pigs, and on-farm biosecurity research, before closing out the day with updates on Mycoplasma species, national swine health programs, welfare measurement, and lessons from recent ASF and FMD outbreaks abroad. Tuesday’s breakouts addressed trailer biosecurity at harvest plants, new influenza findings including H5N1 risk to swine, and strategies for improving pig livability across production phases.
Dr. Scott Dee drew a full room for the Beer and Bacon conversation, sharing reflections from his career and the industry’s progress on PRRS management.
On Tuesday morning, the first keynote, given by Dr. Matt Sturos, took the audience beyond the traditional role of swine as a food-producing species. Dr. Don King gave a global update on Foot and Mouth Disease, while Lee Schulz discussed pork demand and the cost of mortality for swine producers.
During the Science in Practice reception, friends and colleagues celebrated Dr. Laura Bruner at the Science Museum of Minnesota, overlooking the Mississippi River.
The conference closed with a presentation from Lindsey Loken, owner of Blondie’s Butcher Shop. Her career took her from emergency and trauma care to collaborations spanning elementary schools and the Mayo Clinic — an unconventional path to running a butcher shop. Her new protein vending machines, stocked with jerky, meat sticks, and cheese curds, will soon be available at the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport.
From the swine group at the University of Minnesota, a most heartfelt thank you for joining us. We hope to see you next year, September 20–22, 2027!