News

Disease preparedness and prevention among NPPC top priorities

More than 100 US pork producers have been in Washington, DC this week discussing legislative priorities with their members of Congress.

Jim Monroe with the National Pork Producers Council says that includes disease preparedness and prevention.  “One of the things they’ve been talking to Congressional members about is the need to appropriate funding for 600 additional ag inspectors for Customs and Border Protection.”

He tells Brownfield USDA has already amped up their efforts to protect the US from African Swine Fever and other foreign animal diseases.  But more can be done by adding more inspectors.

Monroe says the US pork sector is heavily reliant on exports and an outbreak of a foreign animal disease could be devastating to US producers.  “With African Swine Fever prevention is really the only defense – there is no vaccine,” he says.  “We are working very hard through the USDA border control to take all biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of African Swine Fever spreading to the United States.”

As the disease continues to spread throughout China and Asia, NPPC announced this week it has cancelled World Pork Expo out of an abundance of caution. 

This is just the second time in the event’s history it has been cancelled.  World Pork Expo was scheduled June 5-7 in Des Moines, Iowa.