Educational Podcasts for Michigan’s Small-Scale and Independent Swine Producers

By Casey Zangaro

For Michigan's small-scale and independent swine producers, keeping up with the latest best practices in herd health, nutrition, marketing and farm management can be challenging. Time is tight, resources may be limited and educational events are often out of reach. However, learning doesn't have to stop at the farm gate.

Podcasts have emerged as a convenient and accessible learning tool, fitting seamlessly into the daily rhythm of farm life. Whether you're feeding pigs, hauling them to the processor or fixing water lines, podcasts offer expert advice and relevant real-time information, relieving you of the time constraints associated with traditional learning methods.

Several podcasts have begun to focus on the needs of smaller, niche-market producers, those raising pigs on pasture, selling directly to consumers or trying to improve the efficiency of a family-scale operation. Below are selected episodes that provide value to Michigan producers, ensuring that the time spent listening is well worth it.

Small Swine Producers and Veterinarians Grant Update Release Date: January 8, 2025. This Maine Farmcast episode features a conversation between Colt Knight and Michigan State University Extension pork educator Casey Zangaro. Recorded at the National Swine Education and Outreach Conference, the discussion focuses on the educational gaps for small and independent producers. Zangaro explains how new funding and outreach efforts are being directed toward assisting farmers outside the large commercial model. The topics covered include herd health support, access to veterinary care, and the importance of peer-based learning. This episode is particularly relevant for Michigan producers, offering both practical ideas and insights into how MSU Extension advocates on their behalf.

PigX Podcast – Niche Production Mini-Series

April 2025 | 4-Part Series

In April 2025, the PigX Podcast released a four-part mini-series dedicated entirely to small-scale and niche-market pork production. Each episode features a leading expert discussing critical topics directly impacting smaller operations.

The series begins by examining the results of a national survey that identifies the primary resource gaps for independent swine producers. MSU Extension pork educator Casey Zangaro offers a Michigan-based perspective, discussing how these gaps manifest locally and what resources are being developed to address them.

The second episode shifts its focus to feed strategy, with Lee Johnston of the University of Minnesota examining the importance of energy and fiber in alternative swine diets. Johnston discusses how the form of an ingredient, whether ground or whole, can affect nutrient availability, especially in outdoor systems that rely on forage or hay.

In episode three, Laura Greiner from Iowa State University takes a deep dive into protein nutrition. She explains the complexities of protein levels at various stages of growth and production for pigs, providing clarity to producers who may be self-formulating their rations or seeking cost-effective feeding options.

The final episode in the series focuses on direct marketing. Dr. Colt Knight shares practical strategies for selling pork directly to consumers, including building a brand, connecting with buyers and setting prices that reflect the product's value. His insights are beneficial for Michigan farmers navigating regional farmers' markets or local restaurant partnerships.

Learning everyday

For producers in Michigan, where winter housing, processing access and direct marketing add layers of complexity to swine production, these podcasts offer practical and immediately applicable ideas from experts who understand your specific needs and challenges. Listening and learning while going about the day's work brings education out of the classroom and back to where it matters most: the farm, empowering producers with the knowledge and skills to handle these complexities.