The Secure Pork Supply program provides farmers with the tools to be prepared for a foreign animal disease outbreak.
Farmers regularly face risks in their operations and for livestock farmers one of the biggest risks to their animals is a disease outbreak. While most farmers have many tools and resources available to them to help manage a common disease outbreak, foreign animal diseases, such as African Swine Fever (AFS) pose an entirely different risk to livestock operations, including the possibilities of quarantine, isolation or depopulation of herds.
With current ASF infections in many countries, including recently the Dominican Republic and Haiti, pig farmers in the US should be vigilant regarding herd health, enhancing biosecurity practices and participating in the Secure Pork Supply program. Combining these efforts, along with understanding how to quickly identify the signs of ASF will prepare farmers to respond effectively to this disease should it appear in the U.S.
Specific guidelines are being developed by state government, with assistance from commodity groups and associated industries that will frame how Michigan will approach a foreign animal disease outbreak. These specifications will include industry guidelines and be hyper-focused on maintaining business continuity for farms during an outbreak event. Resources and information are being developed, for example, that will assist farmers if they need to readily adapt to a permitted movement system during an outbreak event.
Farmers looking to gain a better understanding of how foreign animal diseases, including ASF, can impact their daily production and how to be best prepared for an outbreak event should attend the virtual webinar titled: African Swine Fever – Is My Farm at Risk? during the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference hosted by Michigan State University Extension. This session will include information on SPS as it pertains to Michigan farmers, discuss the expectations from state government if an outbreak occurs in the US and will highlight the signs and symptoms of this foreign animal disease. Although geared towards operations with pigs, this session is applicable to all livestock farms looking to be better prepared to address a major disease outbreak.
The 2022 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference will be held virtually, February 28-March 31, 2022. It will be a month-long program encompassing many aspects of the agricultural industry and offer a full array of educational sessions for farmers and homeowners interested in food production and other agricultural endeavors. While there is no cost to participate, attendees must register to receive the necessary zoom links. Registrants can attend as many sessions as they would like and are also able to jump around between tracks. RUP and CCA credits will be offered for several of the sessions. More information can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/miagideas/
