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Economist and Educator Recognized with Distinguished Service Award

Career Focused on Building Understanding Makes Significant Impact on U.S. and Global Pork Industry

Dr. Ron Plain, professor emeritus and extension economist in the 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.

A Passion for Education and Helping Pig Farmers

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.

Plain’s 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.

Missouri Pork Association Executive Director Don Nikodim, who grew up with Plain and taught agricultural education with him, said Plain made an incredible impact on the industry.

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Mariela Segura from the University of Montreal explains the current challenges and future perspectives of Streptococcus suis vaccines. She discusses the impact of the pathogen on pig health, antibiotic resistance, zoonotic risks, and the latest vaccine innovations. Gain insights into how the swine industry can improve disease control. Listen now on all major platforms! "Streptococcus suis is not only a major economic concern in the swine industry but also a zoonotic pathogen." Meet the guest: Dr. Mariela Segura / mariela-segura-442a8425a is a full professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal and the director of the Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Center (CRIPA). She earned her master's and Ph.D. from the Université de Montréal.