The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) has been awarded a Pork Innovation award.  
The award was presented for PAMI’s work in designing and building a Disease Response Trailer, a self-contained, transportable system to respond, contain and mitigate disease spread quickly and humanely. This disease response trailer is the first of its kind in the world with patents pending.   
The innovative trailer was created in direct response to a potential need.  
In 2014, cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) were discovered in Manitoba. PAMI’s team quickly mobilized to assess disease spread, manure application, virus survivability, incubation, and infectivity among others. Subsequent research of Manure Treatment Systems proved valuable to developing capital and operating cost metrics.  
Cam Dahl, general manager with Manitoba Pork said the trailer was something the organization felt was needed, although they hope it is never needed.  
“It’s part of our planning for disease response,” he said.  
If a disease such as African Swine Fever or Foot and Mouth Disease were to break out in Manitoba, Dahl said there would be a need to respond quickly and to be able to “humanely euthanize animals.”  
The trailer developed by PAMI allows for such a response, with its ability to be moved from farm-to-farm should outbreaks occur, he explained.  
“It can be moved to multiple sites.”  
Dahl added, the trailer is ready now, if needed. 
“The unit can be operational,” he said.  
The partnership with Manitoba Pork was not new as they had partnered with PAMI on many important research projects.  
“It is a very positive relationship,” said Dahl, adding it is a partnership which has been advantageous to the industry.  
Lorne Grieger, Director of Technical Sales with PAMI said the award of course is appreciated.  
“It is really nice to be recognized by those in the industry,” he told Prairie Hog Country in a telephone interview.  
Grieger said PAMI is always focused on innovation, adding that it is important to continue to develop solutions to benefit the ag sector, adding farmers are generally eager to look at new developments.  
“Farmers as a whole are interested in adopting new technology when they see a difference it can make in their operations. They’re very ready to make changes,” he said. “That’s one of the keys for agriculture, to investigate new technologies and what opportunities they represent.”  
The work by PAMI continues a long history of innovation for the agriculture sector. For 47 years, they have “studied, designed, built, and tested machines, machine components and processes. Their scientific approach, coupled with hands-on lab and in-field testing provides real, tangible solutions to client problems. PAMI’s skilled team of engineers, agrologists and technologists are committed to operational excellence through research, innovation, adaptation, and knowledge transfer while also being the voice of the customer,” noted a release.  
“Over the years, many things have changed, but one constant remains – PAMI’s passions are firmly rooted in agriculture and their contributions have directly contributed to the growth of the pork industry. Through on-farm research projects like these and many others, working with industry partners from MLMMI, Universities and veterinarians, PAMI has provided this industry with needed information to help guide disease management, production practices and others to ensure a sustainable future.” •
— By Calvin Daniels