Agenda

Day 1

Tuesday, March 25 (Day 1)

Day 1 is packed with insights from economists, government leaders, and producers, covering meat quality, industry trends, and people management—offering a full view of challenges and opportunities.

8:30 AM
Registration

Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada

9:30 AM
Economic Update

Discover the key factors that could affect producer profitability in the year ahead — from livestock prices and export markets to domestic demand, crop supplies, pricing trends, and more.

Feeding and Management of Gilts and Sows During the Transition Period

This session will explore feeding and management strategies to optimize sow and piglet health during critical transition. Attendees will learn about innovative approaches such as tailored feeding regimes, the role of fiber and protein, and best practices for farrowing induction and piglet management.

Speakers

Joe Kerns
Ever.ag

Joe Kerns

Chantal Farmer
AAFC

Chantal Farmer

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Nutrition Break

Sponsored by Grand Valley Fortifiers

11:20 AM
Innovation in Farm Management Tools, Artificial Intelligence and More

Innovation is booming, with many opportunities for your barn, including AI. Rene and Dalton will discuss AI interaction, future trends, and the necessary steps, along with potential cautions and concerns.

11:20 AM
Investing in People: Growing Your Greatest Asset

Learn practical skills to support others while strengthening your farm and family. Through hands-on exercises, this interactive session will help you to navigate challenges with confidence. Whether you're facing difficulties or already thriving, you'll gain tools to better support those around you.

11:20 AM
Emerging Scholar Top 4

The Emerging Scholars Competition at the Ontario Swine Conference will feature presentations from the top four research posters, with finalists sharing their innovative studies and findings. Winners will be announced at the gala. Please see the research page for complete details. This Emerging Scholars workshop is sponsored by Masterfeeds and Floradale Feed Mills.

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break

Sponsored by Demeter Veterinary Services

1:30 PM
Feeding the Fertilizer Plant

Manure feeds the soils which grows the crops that feed the pigs to make manure. It’s a system, it’s a cycle. Learn where and how you can influence and improve the cycle.

1:30 PM
Temporary Foreign Worker Program A-Z

Annie will talk about recent updates to the TFW program including changes to permanent residency pathways. She will outline the process for obtaining a foreign worker from step 1 to completion. She will provide case studies that illuminate some of the challenges typically faced when recruiting a foreign worker into your organization as well as providing tips on dealing with unanticipated things like audits.

1:30 PM
Paths to Improving Meat Quality from Farm to Fork

This session will discuss the paths to improving meat quality from two different perspectives. Learn how nutrition, handling, processing techniques and genetics can all be leveraged to increase the total value of the carcass and financial return to producers.

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Nutrition Break

Sponsored by South West Vets

3:10 PM
Consumer Trends

Gain insights and thought-provoking perspectives on food prices, consumer perceptions and behaviors, grocery retail trends, and the influence of political developments.

If I Can

Chris’ resilient upbringing in Nanton, Alberta, has led to a fulfilling life in agriculture and motivational speaking. Through his "If I Can..." project, he inspires others to live to their fullest potential.

Speakers

Sylvain Charlebois
Dalhousie University

Sylvain Charlebois

Chris Koch
Motivational Speaker

Chris Koch

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Reception

Connect with industry representatives and enjoy refreshments before the Gala, sponsored by Trouw Nutrition.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Research Poster Session

Meet the authors, ask questions and gain insights into their work while enjoying a curated coffee bar sponsored by Molesworth Farm Supply.

6:00 PM
OSC Industry Gala

Join us for a special evening to celebrate the Ontario pork industry. Network with producers, industry experts, and stakeholders while enjoying an awards presentation that celebrates excellence within the industry. 

9:00 PM
Reception

Enjoy refreshments and networking at Blake's Restaurant Bar after the Gala, sponsored by Zantingh.

Attend the biggest swine conference in Ontario

A combination of the London Swine Conference and the Ontario Pork AGM. Two full days of practical learning for the Ontario swine industry.

Meet the Experts

The expertise we've round up
just for you.

Ontario Swine Conference speakers bring a wealth of expertise, from producers and economists to leading researchers. Expect a diverse lineup offering valuable perspectives from every corner of the swine industry.

Jose Soto

Alltech

LeeAnn Peters

Maple Leaf Foods

Joe Kerns

Ever.ag

Sylvain Charlebois

Dalhousie University

OSC Industry Gala

Indulge in a 4-course fine dining experience—all part of the gala’s Bacon-Ball celebration. Connect with industry leaders and celebrate excellence at the awards presentation.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Need an overnight stay?

Please contact the DoubleTree by Hilton directly to book your accommodations. Space is limited, if the DoubleTree by Hilton is full please click the link below to find other hotels in the area.

Call

+1 519-439-1661

If you are a delegate, president or secretary of Ontario Pork please contact Olga Klashtorny for your hotel accommodation and conference registration.

Contact us

Questions about OSC?

Jose Soto
Jose Soto

Jose is currently Alltech’s Director of Monogastric Research. His responsibilities includes R+D, technical services, and nutritional consulting. Jose was born and raised in Chile, where he received undergraduate and graduate training in agricultural sciences and agricultural economics, respectively. He received a Ph.D. in applied swine nutrition from Kansas State University, where he worked extensively with amino acid nutrition and dietary energy economic modeling. Prior to joining Alltech, Soto served in various roles for three of the Top 10 swine integrators in the U.S., in addition to supplier companies, where he was involved with R+D, production operations and technical services.

LeeAnn Peters
LeeAnn Peters

LeeAnn Peters is a Professional Agrologist with A Bsc. in Agriculture from the University Of Manitoba and 26 years of experience in the industry. Since 2013, she has held the role of Director, Technical Services at Maple Leaf Foods. Leading from a strong background in animal science, continuous improvement and change management, her team focuses on Animal Health and Welfare, Nutrition, Quality Assurance, Niche Programs, Technical Innovation & Employee Training. She is actively involved in several industry-wide committees with a focus and interest in animal diseases, their epidemiology and their economic impact to the swine industry.  

Joe Kerns
Joseph Kerns

President of Ever.Ag’s Livestock division, Joe has nearly 40 years of experience working with producers, suppliers, and mills to support agricultural operations. He leads the team in assisting clients with technical aspects of risk management, specifically commodity management, livestock and grain marketing, ingredient procurement and operational benchmarking. Prior to this consulting venture, he directed risk management activities for industry leaders such as ADM, Premium Standard Farms, Continental Grain, and Iowa Select Farms.

Sylvain Charlebois
Sylvain Charlebois

Known as “The Food Professor”, he is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. He is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. Since 2012, he has published the highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, providing an overview of food price trends for the coming year. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, now ranked as top Canadian management podcast, discussing issues in the food industries. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.