By Jan Archer, Pork Producer – 1,200-sow farm farrow-to-finish, Goldsboro, N.C.
As a pork producer, I don’t have to tell you all the benefits of good biosecurity on the farm. It’s not a new concept. We do it everyday to deter perennial diseases such as PRRS, influenza, circovirus and more. What you may not fully realize, however, is the impact that keeping our farms safe, our pigs healthy and our businesses operating means to the communities that we call home.
The Looming Threat
By now you know that African swine fever (ASF) is now as close as the Caribbean nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. That means just one short plane or boat ride could bring ASF into the mainland U.S. and cause immediate havoc with our industry’s ability to operate let alone the economic devastation.
According to a 2020 study completed by economists at Iowa State University, the economic impact of a hypothetical ASF outbreak could mean a difference of $15 billion in losses for the industry in a scenario where ASF is controlled in two years, as opposed to $50 billion in losses if controlled in 10 years.
Understand the Impact You Have
As I was preparing to facilitate the ASF preparedness panel discussion at the National Pork Industry Forum in Louisville, Ky., last week, I started to realize just how much we as pork producers can affect not only our farms’ biosecurity, but also the other aspects of the We Care Ethical Principles.
In many of our rural counties, our pig farms help drive the local economy. In a recent study by North Carolina State University, economists estimated that the state’s pig production sector and the pig slaughter and pork processing sector together directly contribute $5.9 billion in sales, $1.7 billion in value added and 19,298 jobs. When indirect and induced effects are added, the total contribution of these two sectors is estimated at $9.5 billion in sales, $3.5 billion in value added and 43,611 jobs in North Carolina.
These data clearly show how much rural America depends on the pork industry. It also underscores the responsibility we have to help protect our farms from anything that could damage this relationship, including FADs.
Time for Action
With a full grasp of what our farms and our industry mean to the American economy, it’s time to reevaluate how good of a job you’re doing on the farm level. According to the swine veterinarians that we had on our FAD preparation panel, you should be practicing these protocols on your operation.
• Have a specific biosecurity plan for each of your sites. You can use templates from the Secure Pork Supply plan by visiting porkcheckoff.org and securepork.org.
• Maintain a line of separation, both indoors and on the farm’s perimeters. This means thinking about clothing, shoes, vehicles and other equipment.
• Be sure that trailers and barns are cleaned and sanitized before moving pigs in and out of them to minimize pathogen transmission.
• Participate in the Secure Pork Supply plan and create a no-cost account for the AgView traceability tool from National Pork Board. AgView is a technology solution funded by the Pork Checkoff.
Safeguard Your Farm, Your Community
By taking preventive steps on your farm today against disease threats such as ASF, you’re not only helping protect your business interests, but you’re also reducing the economic risk to your local economy. For much of rural America, livestock production is a key component of economic stability. Now, it’s our turn to make sure more people know this and can better appreciate how we strive to be good neighbors every day.
From one producer to another, I personally challenge you to find any gaps in your FAD preparation plans and act today to be prepared for the worst-case scenario that could happen tomorrow.
This opinion article reflects the views of Jan Archer and does not necessarily represent the views of Farm Journal’s PORK.
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