Yesterday, officials identified a single case of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza
(HPAI) in a turkey flock in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. It is believed this HPAI
strain mutated from a low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strain that has been found
in poultry in that area recently, according to a statement from the U. S. Department of
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). HPAI has not been
found in commercial poultry flocks in the U.S. since 2017.
As if U.S. pork producers are not already feeling the pain from decreased sales to the food-service industries and the closure of processing facilities following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, they are now more aware of what could be another catastrophic economic blow. New research released from Iowa State University earlier this month found that if African swine fever (ASF) were to enter the U.S. pork market, it could cost upwards of $50 billion in losses over a 10-year period, if left unchecked.
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced additional measures to control and eradicate African swine fever (ASF) should the virus be detected in the U.S. The additional measures will strengthen the department's ability to quickly and effectively respond to the disease before it severely impacts animal agriculture.
Emerging, transboundary diseases pose a significant, growing threat to U.S. agriculture and our food supply, and even though biosecurity practices have improved over the years, gaps still remain. This was the topic of conversation at a Farm Foundation forum in Washington, D.C., last week, which brought together leaders from producer groups, industry, government and research and extension institutions for presentations and a discussion on agricultural biosecurity.
Today, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and 30 state pork producer associations called upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prohibit the importation of organic soy products from countries that are positive for African swine fever (ASF).
It's a slow week in Washington with Congress on recess in recognition of the Presidents' Day holiday. While some small progress has been made on policy issues in the past two weeks, all eyes have been on the White House and the road to it.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) debuted a new educational program focusing on foreign animal disease this week in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga. The event, "Biosecurity in the Face of Foreign Animal Disease ? What the Feed Industry Needs to Know," discussed how to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases into your facility, what to do if a disease outbreak comes to the U.S. and much more.
This week, the Swine Health Information Center, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council and American Association of Swine Veterinarians released an updated fact sheet for feed holding times in light of newly released information on how diseases can potentially be transmitted via imported feed ingredients.
This week, the Swine Health Information Center, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council and American Association of Swine Veterinarians released an updated fact sheet for feed holding times in light of newly released information on how diseases can potentially be transmitted via imported feed ingredients.
A new educational program hosted by the American Feed Industry Association will focus on biosecurity as it pertains to foreign animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and avian influenza. The program, "Biosecurity in the Face of Foreign Animal Disease ? What the Feed Industry Needs to Know," will take place on Jan. 29, 2020, in conjunction with the 2020 International Production & Processing Expo, taking place Jan. 28-30 in Atlanta, Ga. Experts will discuss how to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases into your facility, what to do if a disease outbreak comes to the U.S. and much more!
Press reports in the last few weeks have highlighted that scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed a vaccine that is highly effective in protecting pigs against the current strain of African swine fever (ASF) currently spreading throughout Asia and Europe. Though testing of the vaccine on approximately 30 live pigs showed protection against ASF, it has yet to be tested under farm conditions or to be taken to the next steps of development and commercialization - meaning this vaccine is still far away from being a potential solution to slow the spread of the virus.
As the threat of animal disease rises globally, it is more important than ever to combine efforts and resources to prevent their introduction into the U.S. and to be prepared in case the diseases do arrive in the country. The American Feed Industry Association recently participated in one such effort on Oct. 17 at Texas A&M University.
The European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) has developed new recommendations for biosecurity measures for feed manufacturers, based on knowledge gained from past viral disease outbreaks.
Earlier this year, roughly 150 government and industry leaders from across North America gathered at the African swine fever Forum, hosted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, to discuss working together to prevent the entry and mitigate the impacts of ASF. At the meeting, the American Feed Industry Association discussed the industry's efforts on the four pillars for action on preparedness planning, enhanced biosecurity, ensuring business continuity and coordinated risk communications. The final report from this forum has now been published.
Preparedness planning, enhanced biosecurity, ensuring business continuity and coordinated risk communications are the four pillars of a coordinated framework for the prevention and control of African swine fever (ASF) that were discussed this week in Ottawa, Canada. Roughly 150 government and industry leaders from the United States, Canada and Mexico gathered at the meeting, hosted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, to work together to prevent entry and mitigate the impacts of ASF in the Americas.
The American Feed Industry Association's biannual print magazine, the AFIA Journal, keeps members, association friends and affiliates of AFIA up-to-date on organization, industry and government information. The spring 2019 AFIA Journal is now available in its eMagazine format!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) developed a new traveler website to give tips and information to international travelers on how to avoid unknowingly bringing African swine fever (ASF) into the U.S. The new website provides information on what products can and cannot be brought into the country.
In a surprise move this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled that it is doubling-down efforts to guard the country against African swine fever (ASF), which continues to spread across China, Vietnam and Europe in recent months.
The American Feed Industry Association has updated its biosecurity guidelines, providing new information on how viruses can potentially spread throughout the feed manufacturing process and recommendations on how feed and ingredient manufacturers can develop and implement biosecurity plans at their facilities to better safeguard their feed and feed ingredients.
With China and Europe reporting a growing number of African Swine Fever outbreaks in recent weeks, the U.S. pork industry is rightfully concerned that this devastating disease could be brought to the heartland.