IARN — African Swine Fever (ASF) has been on the forefront of the pork industry for more than two years. It forced the cancellation of the World Pork Expo in 2019 and has caused us to implement stricter livestock rules at the Iowa State Fair since then as well. While U.S. researchers have been working to help find a solution for the world’s pork producers, the discovery of the disease for the first time in the Western Hemisphere has given the work a sense of urgency. The National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff have been invested in ASF research programs for quite some time.
The discovery of ASF in the Dominican Republic two weeks ago has led to many questions in the United States about how to prepare for, prevent, and control any outbreaks inside our borders. The Pork Checkoff has funded over thirty swine disease research projects, with an investment of over three and a half million dollars.
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