I'm an optimistic person by nature, but I've had to become more of a realist. This is truer than ever when preparing our business, and our clients, for the potential of a foreign animal disease entrance into the United States.

In recent months, I've pivoted from talking about IF an African swine fever introduction will happen to WHEN it will occur. The disease's entrance into the western hemisphere (found in Dominican Republic and Haiti in September) has certainly increased our risk in the United States.

Am I giving up hope that biosecurity practices will hold? Nope.

Do I think we can keep ASF out? Maybe.

Would I be willing to literally bet the farm on it? Not a chance.

As a realist (and not a fear monger), risk of infection in the United States has definitely increased. How much? Nobody knows. A recent survey of the Pipestone veterinarians suggests a 10% chance of U.S. infection. While those probabilities are only estimates and may seem low relative to other agricultural risks, they are certainly are worthy of planning given the severity of the production and financial impacts. 

Basics of a Foreign Animal Disease readiness plan

Complete a Secure Pork Supply Plan
In the event of an ASF outbreak, all pig movement will stop for a minimum of 72 hours. State animal health officials have stated they will not allow animals to begin moving without a SPS Plan and movement records. The SPS Plan is easy to do and inexpensive. 

You will need to:

Maintain movements records
AgView seems to be the most comprehensive, user-friendly platform, and is encouraged by most packers. This program is free so leaves little excuse not to use.

You will need to:

Manage financial risk
COVID showed us just how quickly we can burn through working capital and the importance of a risk management plan. COVID gave us a practice run for dealing with a disruptive FAD like ASF. The difference between COVID and an ASF break is that ASF is also likely to become a trade barrier. Without the export demand we've grown to expect, we anticipate the U.S. pork supply will experience a surplus. Domestic pork consumption hasn't increased in 20 years, so the chances of "eating our way out of it" remain slim. Basic supply and demand conditions could create an unfavorable revenue picture for quite some time.

You will need to:

Understand contract obligations
To accommodate large investments of financial capital, the U.S. pork industry is full of formal and informal partnerships, contracts and agreements. Many of the formal contracts include force majeure language.  In the case where a FAD becomes a force majeure event, be familiar with the details of your contractual arrangements and obligations so you know how flexible you can be to weather difficult times.

You should review:

Plan what is difficult while it is easy. You plan for natural disasters through crop insurance, fires through property insurance and fatality through life insurance.  Worst case scenario planning for a foreign animal disease should be no different, and in the very best case, it's just great insurance you hope you never have to use. I'd bet the farm on that. 

Source: Jim Marzolf, Pipestone Business, who is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.