I admit it. African swine fever, and the financial and emotional costs associated with it, sometimes keeps me up at night. It's as close now as the island nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and just one short boat or plane ride from the mainland United States.

According to a 2020 Iowa State University study that was funded by BarnTools, the hypothetical impact from an ASF outbreak when controlled in two years versus 10 years could be a $35 billion difference, $15 billion versus $50 billion, respectively. The proximity and potential economic impact of ASF are key reasons I committed to identifying areas for improvement that will better protect my farm's business continuity if the threat becomes reality. The same reasons motivated me to share more about what I've done on my farm during the Pork Industry Forum panel, "ASF: The First 72 Hours. Are you Ready?," in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Industry involvement 
As an owner/operator of G&W Pork in Iowa, I recognized years ago the essential role I and my fellow pork producers play in foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness. As a result, I become involved in the National Swine Disease Council, FAD Joint Industry Working Group and a few other industry groups that are developing a standardized response plan for the industry, especially benefiting those with pigs across state lines. These activities helped me contribute more broadly to the industry's preparation; however, I also recognize the importance of on-farm preparation. 

Enhancing on-farm biosecurity  
Everyone can help protect our national herd from FAD by enhancing their own biosecurity plan. It does require an investment; however, I believe our industry cannot afford to ignore the need for the best biosecurity procedures, including:

Enhanced biosecurity on my farm is not solely for FADs; they protect against domestic diseases as well. Seeing pigs helplessly suffer and die is a heartbreaking feeling farmers know painfully well, and these actions protect and improve pig health. Our employees are happier since there is less disease transmission threatening pig health. 

Making AgView part of preparedness 
In the past 18 months, AgView has evolved to provide more preparedness opportunities because it can provide real-time data from participating farms to state animal health officials. 

During the panel at Forum, my fellow experts and I demonstrated how organized programs help fill the gaps, and how tools to stamp out ASF are being developed and implemented. For example, AgView fits nicely with the Swine Health Improvement Plan certification program since it can record and supply all the proof of biosecurity protocols being implemented, accurate premise ID information, traceability and lab tests required. 

Finally, and a key concern for myself and producers alike, AgView can help the pork industry rapidly contain or regionalize the impact of an FAD, building trust for our customers overseas. I agree with my fellow board member Scott Phillips, a producer from Missouri, who said, "AgView reduces risk because it allows us to trace animal movements and contain a FAD to reopen export markets faster."

My call for you: Time is now 
FAD prevention and preparedness efforts should be started today. Create an enhanced biosecurity plan and implement the protocols in each site. Complete your Secure Pork Supply documents. Create your AgView account or request a demo. We all want business continuity, and now we all need to do our part by completing the tasks that ladder up to pork producers' No. 1 priority of FAD prevention and preparedness. It's not just for our farms; it's for our neighbors, our stakeholders, grain farmers, packers and processors and for our livelihoods.   

Source: Al Wulfekuhle, is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly own the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.