January 2026 - Journal_Final - Flipbook - Page 7
Health
exist for the continental U.S. This makes preparedness
at the farm and system level not just smart—it’s
essential.
1
A Secure Pork
Supply (SPS) Plan
and Enhanced
Biosecurity
Every operation should have
a clear SPS plan, including
enhanced biosecurity for each
site. This plan:
• Lays out step-by-step actions
if ASF is detected in the U.S.
and all pig movements are
temporarily halted.
Preparing for ASF and other foreign animal diseases
doesn’t have to be complicated. Clarity comes from
preparation. For every swine producer, these three
pillars of preparedness provide a clear path forward.
Pig Movement
3 US SHIP and
In the event of an ASF incursion,
national traceability data will
be critical. Rapid identi昀椀cation
of infected farms in our best
chance to contain ASF quickly
and prevent it from becoming
endemic in the U.S. Producers
should maintain:
The U.S. Swine Health
Improvement Program (US
SHIP) is a USDA program in
the process of being formally
codi昀椀ed. It is designed to certify
farm sites as free from ASF and
Classical Swine Fever (CSF).
Traceability
• Positions your farm more
favorably with state and
federal authorities when
determining which farms may
resume pig movements.
• Electronic pig movement
records that can be shared
immediately with authorities.
• Demonstrates proactive risk
management and disease
awareness.
• Data stored in a format
that is easily accessible and
usable by animal health
of昀椀cials.
Working with a veterinarian to
create or update your SPS plan
before a crisis occurs is critical. In
the face of uncertainty, having a
plan brings clarity and control.
Participation in
2 Records and
• Daily updates re昀氀ecting realtime movements.
Platforms like AgView or
RabApp are commonly
recommended because they can
quickly generate movement data
in formats already compatible
with state and federal response
systems.
Site Certi昀椀cation
US SHIP currently represents the
strongest industry-wide effort
to prepare for foreign animal
disease events. Participation
helps establish consistent health
standard and strengthens the
industry’s ability to respond
collectively.
Producers are encouraged to
discuss US SHIP enrollment
and site certi昀椀cation with their
veterinarian or a trusted industry
advisor. Understanding the
requirements now can save
valuable time later.
Preparation Today Protects the Industry
Tomorrow
proactive participation in US SHIP.
True ASF preparedness isn’t about reacting to every
headline or chasing every new development. It’s about
focusing on the fundamentals that matter most: a
robust SPS plan, accurate pig movement records, and
In an increasingly complex global landscape,
producers who plan ahead gain clarity amid chaos—
and protect not only their farms but the broader U.S.
pork industry.
WINTER 2026 | 7
