Recognizing that swine disease carries both a heavy economic price tag and a significant mental burden for producers, the National Pork Board (NPB) has officially launched its Swine Health Advisory Committee. The producer-led group held its inaugural meeting in Des Moines earlier this month to begin shaping the future of the National Swine Health Strategy.
“The National Swine Health Strategy is informed by producers and is for producers,” says Dr. Seth Krantz, advisory committee member and NPB board member. “Producers have felt the significant mental and economic stress of swine disease for too long. The time has come for our industry to unite around the long-term mission of improving herd health. It will take daily individual actions and decisions on farms around the nation to make a measurable difference for the entire pork industry, but that is the goal.”
A Strategy Built for the “Slat-Level”
The producer-led committee will provide strategic input and guidance to help ensure the National Swine Health Strategy remains aligned with industry priorities and delivers meaningful progress. By providing strategic guidance, the strategy aims to reduce the impact of domestic diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), lessen the spread of disease, and keep foreign and emerging diseases out.
“The formation of this new producer-led advisory committee is an important step in advancing the National Swine Health Strategy and continuing to transform valuable research and resources into practical, slat-level solutions for producers,” says NPB Chief Veterinarian Dr. Dusty Oedekoven. “I am excited and energized at the opportunity to collaborate with this group of engaged, wise and generous producers who are willing to contribute their time and expertise to help improve swine health for the entire pork industry.”
The advisory committee plans to provide ongoing strategic input and recommendations to NPB staff and board members in three areas of their work:
- Prioritizing proposed plans to find efficiencies and opportunities across industry resources.
- Defining clear actions and measurable outcomes to track progress and demonstrate impact on turning research into action.
- Addressing both the risk of transboundary diseases and the ongoing burden of disease, including PRRSV and PEDV.
A Diverse Coalition of Experts
The committee features a broad cross-section of the industry, including independent producers, large-scale production leaders, veterinarians, and representatives from the USDA and academic institutions. NPB Swine Health Advisory Committee members include, in alphabetical order:
- Dr. Matt Anderson, Suidae Health and Production
- Paul Ayers, The Maschhoffs, NPB board member
- Dr. Alexandra Buckley, USDA Agricultural Research Service
- Cheryl Day, Ohio Pork Council
- Joe Dykhuis, Michigan producer
- Dr. Anna Forseth, National Pork Producers Council
- Scott Hays, Missouri Pork Association
- Jesse Heimer, Missouri producer, NPB board member
- Stacy Herr, Indiana Pork Producers Association
- Nathan Isler, Ohio producer
- Dr. Clayton Johnson, Carthage Veterinary Services, LTD
- Dr. Jeff Kaisand, Iowa Animal Industry Bureau
- Dr. Seth Krantz, Tosh Farms, NPB board member
- Dr. Joel Nerem, Pipestone
- Dr. Megan Niederwerder, Swine Health Information Center
- Dr. Kathleen O’Hara, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- Lawrence Parks, The Parks Companies
- Brock Pillen, Nebraska producer
- Jeremy Robertson, Iowa producer
- Brandon Schafer, Minnesota producer
- Dr. Harry Snelson, American Association of Swine Veterinarians
- Dr. Gordon Spronk, Minnesota producer, NPB board member
- Dr. Matthew Turner, JBS Live Pork
- Kraig Westerbeek, Smithfield Foods
- Todd Wiley, Iowa producer
- Noel Williams, Seaboard Foods
- Clay Zwilling, National Swine Registry
By working together, the industry plans to strengthen its ability to protect long-term herd health and improve the lives of pigs and America’s 60,000 pig farmers. Learn more at porkcheckoff.org/strategy.
