Registration is now open for the AASV Early Career Swine Veterinarian Conference to be held November 5, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. This AASV-hosted conference will be held immediately following the ISU James D. McKean Swine Conference. Registration is free to those who register for the James D. McKean Swine Disease Conference (required)* but limited to 50 AASV member veterinarians that are within their first 10 years of practice. Please only register if planning to attend the entire afternoon of sessions. Register here.
Monthly Archives: September 2021
USDA Statement on Confirmation of African Swine Fever in Haiti
On September 20, the Chief Veterinary Officer in Haiti reported a positive case of African swine fever (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The sample was collected from a pig in a province bordering the Dominican Republic and was tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories through a cooperative testing program. [Source: USDA 21 September 2021]
USDA Submits Dossier to the World Organisation for Animal Health to Finalize African Swine Fever Protection Zone
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) submitted a dossier to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) detailing the actions taken to finalize a new African Swine Fever (ASF) protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The United States has long kept ASF out of the country, and this action, coupled with our existing, comprehensive import restrictions and safeguards will further strengthen our ability to protect the U.S. swine herd given recent findings of the disease in the Dominican Republic and Haiti [Source: USDA 24 September 2021].
USDA Commits $500 Million for ASF Prevention
The National Pork Producers Council today commended Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for dedicating $500 million in USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for prevention of and preparation for African swine fever (ASF), a pig-only disease that would be devastating for the U.S. pork industry. [Source: NPPC 29 September 2021] The CCC, a wholly owned government corporation created in 1933, implements specific agricultural programs established by Congress and carries out activities under the CCC Charter Act.
African Swine Fever Action Week Recap
USDA hosted African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week September 13-17. Our goal in hosting Action Week was to bring attention to the importance of ASF planning and prevention and highlight the extensive work being done by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as well as our state partners and industry to keep the disease out of the United States. We hope the webinars and other resources we shared over the course of last week provided practical information to help you better protect the health of your herd. [Source: USDA 20 September 2021]
USDA Announces $3 Billion Investment in Agriculture, Animal Health, and Nutrition; Unveils New Climate Partnership Initiative, Requests Public Input
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers. These include assistance to address challenges and costs associated with drought, animal health, market disruptions for agricultural commodities, and school food supply chain issues. Secretary Vilsack also outlined and requested public comments on a new climate partnership initiative designed to create new revenue streams for producers via market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. [Source: USDA 29 September 2021]
APHIS Eliminates the Voluntary Trichinae Certification Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is eliminating the Voluntary Trichinae Certification Program and removing the regulations associated with the program from the Code of Federal Regulations. This program generates little producer participation, and this action is intended to benefit the swine industry by reducing possible confusion about the trichinae-free status of exported products. [Source: USDA 23 September 2021]
FDA Response to Commentary on Studies Involving the Use of Human Critically Important Antimicrobials Agents in Veterinary Species
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is aware of concerns raised in response to a recent commentary published in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, entitled “The publication of studies involving the use of human critically important antimicrobial agents in veterinary species.” This article, a commentary regarding editorial policy of veterinary journals, included a co-author affiliated with FDA but authoring in her own capacity. As stated in a disclaimer on the article, the information in the article is not intended to, nor does it, represent the formal position of FDA. [Source: FDA 17 September 2021]
Position Announcement (2 positions): Postdoc Research Associate and Public Health Veterinarian
The Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking applications for two positions: a Postdoc Research Associate and a Public Health Veterinarian/Lead Public Health Veterinarian. Click on each position title for details, or continue below.
AFBF, NPPC File Prop. 12 Appeal to Supreme Court
The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation today petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take their case against California’s Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s “arbitrary” production standards [Source: NPPC 27 September 2021].