We Can Always Be More Prepared, Says National Pork Board President
Although we will never be fully prepared, we can always be more fully prepared than we are today, said Gene Noem, National Pork Board president, during his opening comments at the National Pork Industry Forum on March 10 in Louisville, Ky.
When it comes to preparedness, the biggest topic that comes to mind is foreign animal disease. With African swine fever (ASF) striking closer to the U.S., the industry has become even more proactive in seeking ways to keep this deadly virus of pigs out of the country. The National Pork Board, along with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, National Pork Producers Council, US-SHIP, Swine Health Information Center, the North American Meat Institute and USDA are working to prevent ASF and other foreign animal diseases from reaching the U.S. swine herd.
“Research is key to ensure that we include new developments such as vaccine development, validating processes like oral fluids to ensure and enhance our ability to get the disease before it comes on farm," Noem said. “National Pork Board is working with the state pork associations and state animal health officials to help identify depopulation disposal resources and equipment needs at the local level in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.”
Another topic that demands high-level attention is the industry’s need to emphasize its commitment to sustainability and to back it up with data.
“Proving our commitment to continuous improvement is key to establish U.S. pork as a global leader in sustainable agriculture,” Noem said. “We need producers to participate in the Checkoff-funded On-Farm Sustainability Reports.”
The On-Farm Sustainability Reports measure and document producers’ continuous improvement efforts, he explained. National aggregate data from the reports will be shared with customers and key decisionmakers to demonstrate U.S. pork producers’ commitment to sustainability.
“This is a step forward in allowing the pork industry to continue to build trust in modern pig farming while protecting farmers’ freedom to operate. I personally just initiated my Checkoff-funded On-Farm Sustainability Report. I'm excited to have the data and see what I can do on my farm and my partner’s farms to do things even better.”
Learn more about On-Farm Sustainability Reports.
Learn more about ASF preparedness.
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