Patio Ponderings
Exploring the Expected and the Obscure in Agriculture
From a lifetime in agriculture to deep dives into leadership, rural life, and the evolving food system, Patio Pondering is a podcast where thoughtful conversations meet the open air. Hosted by Jim Smith, Ph.D., a seasoned Swine Nutritionist, agricultural thinker, and storyteller, this podcast explores the connections between our agricultural roots and the broader world.
What started as daily reflections—scribbled with a morning coffee in hand—has grown into a podcast that uncovers the insights, challenges, and sometimes-forgotten history of the industry that feeds us all. Whether solo pondering or engaging in candid discussions with guests, this show digs into everything from livestock production to food trends, rural business shifts, and the personal stories that shape agricultural life.
Now available in both audio and video formats, Patio Pondering brings these discussions to life on YouTube and podcast platforms alike. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch the conversation unfold, you’ll find fresh perspectives, candid storytelling, and the kind of conversations that make you think twice.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because agriculture is more than just dirt and livestock. It’s a story worth telling.
Patio Ponderings
What Has the Modern Swine Industry Gained… and What Has It Quietly Lost? | Dr. Doug Newcom
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What Has the Modern Swine Industry Gained… and What Has It Quietly Lost? | Dr. Doug Newcom
The modern swine industry has never been more productive. Weaning rates are higher, pigs grow faster, feed efficiency continues to improve, and genetic tools are more powerful than ever.
But progress comes with tradeoffs.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim Smith sits down with Dr. Doug Newcom, Vice President of Genetics and Technology at the National Swine Registry, to explore how the pork industry has evolved over the past four decades—and what may have been left behind along the way.
The conversation moves from genetic selection and reproductive efficiency to pork quality, resilience, stockmanship, youth development, and the future of the industry. Doug shares perspectives from a career that spans seedstock production, genetic evaluation, international swine genetics, and leadership within the National Swine Registry.
Topics include:
• How the industry increased pigs born alive from 10 to 14–16 pigs per litter
• Why pork quality and eating experience still matter
• What great breeders recognized before the data proved it
• Efficiency versus resilience in modern production systems
• The decline of independent seedstock producers and the impact of industry consolidation
• Why youth livestock programs remain critical to agriculture's future
• Lessons from promoting U.S. swine genetics around the world, including China, Vietnam, South Africa, and beyond
• What gives Doug optimism about the future of the pork industry
If you've ever wondered whether agriculture can become more efficient without losing the qualities that made it successful in the first place, this conversation is worth your time.
Guest: Dr. Doug Newcom
Vice President, Genetics & Technology