World Pork Expo 2026 returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines and runs June 3–4, bringing seminars, panel discussions and the industry's largest pork trade show together in one venue. The National Pork Producers Council frames the programming to give producers actionable ideas they can apply on-farm and in business planning. NPPC President Rob Brenneman said the seminar schedule creates space for focused conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing producers this year.
The event pairs technical sessions on animal health and genetics with market-focused panels, consumer outreach briefings and practical workshops on nutrient management. Business Seminars are hosted in the Varied Industries Building and are included with expo admission, giving attendees access to both exhibit halls and educational programming without extra registration fees. Sessions are designed to address immediate operational pressures while highlighting longer-term strategies for demand growth and risk management.
Wednesday's sessions include a consumer-focused carcass fabrication demonstration led by Alltech's U.S. Pork team working with the National Pork Board to showcase new cuts and merchandising opportunities, and a genetics presentation from Topigs Norsvin USA detailing a multi-year roadmap to improved disease resilience. The genetics talk, led by Jenelle Dunkelberger, outlines research milestones and product development aimed at producing more resilient pigs and stabilizing production. Attendees can see how breeding and health strategies are being combined to reduce variability in output.
Business seminar lineup
Thursday programming features a discussion of the USDA pork carcass cutout with price reporters Chris Sommers and Kirk Hatfield from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, offering producers a clearer view of what drives the cutout and how reporting stays representative. A live Swine It Podcast session will convene industry executives and veterinarians to explore how U.S. pork systems can be designed for predictable performance despite market and disease volatility, emphasizing upstream controls such as feed quality and early behavioral indicators.
Manure management is a concentrated theme on Thursday, with sessions demonstrating separation technologies to reduce storage volume, capture higher-value nutrients and streamline field application, and a technical talk on the biological components of manure beyond NPK. Presenters include Kurt Grimm, Dr. Dan Andersen and producer Tork Whisler, who will discuss practical steps to convert manure from a liability into a revenue opportunity through nutrient recovery and improved handling.
The Pork Checkoff's Pork Academy runs concurrent expert-led sessions covering trade and export investment, the National Swine Health Strategy, U.S. pork economic outlook, consumer demand strategies including the "Taste What Pork Can Do" campaign, and implications of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The event also hosts the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet for 18–22 year-olds; the competition limits entry to 24 contestants and awards $25,000 scholarships, including a $10,000 first-place prize and a trip to the NPPC Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C., with applications due May 15.
Registration details
Online registration for World Pork Expo 2026 is open now; register by May 13 to have badges and parking permits mailed within the U.S. and Canada. Online registration closes May 28, and late registrants or international attendees can pick up credentials on site starting June 3. Additional event details, hotel blocks and the full schedule are available on the World Pork Expo website, and online registration closes May 28.
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