Every pork producer knows that herd health is more than just a set of data points. It is a daily reality that affects your team’s morale, your animals’ well-being and the long-term stability of your operation. This is why the National Pork Board is leading the National Swine Health Strategy — a producer-led approach to address our most significant challenges, including the devastating impacts of PRRSV and PEDV. By creating industry-wide alignment, we can achieve a measurably healthier herd and fulfill our commitment to improve the lives of both pigs and people.
Through listening sessions and surveys in 2025, we gathered the input needed to shape a plan that reflects your needs. Now, we are moving from high-level discussions to the first practical steps. We want to share what that work looks like and why your participation is what makes this entire effort possible.
How we are turning swine health research into slat-level solutions
Ninety-eight percent of producers identified herd health as vital to the future success of our industry.1 We know that a disease like PRRSV is devastating to every aspect of a farm — it wears down the employees, drains owner equity and negatively impacts animal well-being. Because your pigs are your livelihood, dealing with increased mortality can be the heaviest burden of all.
Our immediate tactics focus on turning science into tools you can use to change that reality. One of our first moves is a $1 million Request for Proposal for research focused on eliminating PEDV and PRRSV, along with preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases and reducing the spread of pathogens.
We are funding efforts to provide slat-level solutions that can be scalable for operations of all types and sizes. By coordinating our support and using better data, we can create an early warning system for emerging challenges while more effectively managing the diseases already threatening your barns.
The importance of producer participation in disease elimination
While we have a clear destination, the path to get there will take time. There is no magic trick that will make a disease like PRRSV vanish overnight. This is a long-term journey that requires us to work as a team, relying on science and patience as we progress.
To see a different result, we must be willing to look at how we do things on the farm. This is why adopting research-backed practices is so important. We believe that eliminating these diseases in the U.S. is possible, but only with broad participation across the industry. When you implement these strategies, you are doing more than just improving your bottom line — you are protecting the future of your operation and the next generation of producers.
How the pork industry alignment supports your farm’s future
The National Swine Health Strategy was created by producers, for producers, and in lockstep with industry partners. By aligning Pork Checkoff investments with your top priorities, the National Pork Board is working together to build an industry ready for the future.
Please stay informed and involved. This effort reflects our shared commitment to improving the lives of our pigs and people. You can find more details on the next steps and how to participate at porkcheckoff.org/strategy.
1 2024 National Pork Board Producer Survey
Biography:
Dr. Meredith Petersen, DVM, PhD, MPH, director of swine health for the National Pork Board
Dr. Meredith Petersen joined the National Pork Board in 2024 as director of swine health. She oversees the Secure Pork Supply and Certified Swine Sample Collector programs and supports the development of a National Swine Health Strategy. In this role, she collaborates with others on the Swine Health and Production Team on projects related to both foreign and endemic disease.
