News
Peterson questions Secretary Perdue about ASF
The House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson says farmers in his home state of Minnesota are very concerned about a possible African Swine Fever outbreak. He told a House Ag Committee hearing, “As far as I understand it, it’s decimated the hog industry in China, and if this gets in the United States, it’s going to put us out of business.”
Peterson asked Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue if USDA is on the ball with AFS, and if there have been upgraded inspections or security at airports. Perdue says, “I think we are, but there’s no doubt in
Sonny Perdue told the House Ag Committee says their Animal Health Inspection Service is on the job working with customs and the border patrol, but stopping a disease is challenging, especially with the mobility of American pigs. “Many of these pigs are born elsewhere and they’re transferred to be fed out in other parts of the country and there are a lot of pigs on the road at any given time which makes it very difficult.”
Perdue says it’s easier to isolate a disease in poultry because of the regionalized production and less transportation of live animals.
Perdue says USDA will also be meeting with Canadian officials at the end of May to work on inspection and prevention protocols for incoming products.
Add Comment