How are farmers using science and technology to grow healthier food? What’s the impact on our food, animal care and the environment? Students at Siegel High School will get those questions answered on Wednesday, March 12. Phyllis Ferguson of the Tennessee Pork Producers Association will address culinary and agriscience students starting at 8:10 a.m. and continuing through 12:10 p.m. at the high school located at 3300 Siegel Road in Murfreesboro.

Titled “Modern Animal Agriculture & Pork Production” the speech by Ferguson will highlight how ongoing advancements in agricultural science are helping farmers raise better food while using fewer natural resources than ever before. “Farmers who raise pigs have been able to make great progress in animal health, food safety and protecting the environment,” said Ferguson. “And farmers know they must always keep learning and working to get better at what they do.” Farmers now use 41-percent less water and 78-percent less land to raise pigs than they did 50 years ago.

 
"Modern barns, a focus on nutrition and animal care mean pigs live healthier lives than ever before,” said Ferguson. “And, healthy pigs mean healthy food. For example, pork tenderloin today is as lean as a skinless chicken breast and is certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food. I’d like to thank Siegel High School for giving me an opportunity to share with these students what farmers are doing to make sure safe and healthy food gets to their dinner table today and in the future.”

There are 68,000 pork producers in the United States. The industry generates more than a half million jobs and produces more than $21 billion in personal income each year.