Protecting the health of the U.S. swine heard remains a top priority for producers in 2026.
Duane Stateler in northwest Ohio says it will take an all-hands approach, with producers working together to make meaningful improvements. “We’ve gotten a little healthier in the pocketbook, now we can look at what we can do better on our farms to help decrease this disease problems in areas that we haven’t been able to fix for a couple of years.”
Eastern Nebraska producer Bill Luckey says biosecurity efforts remain the first line of defense. “In some of my barns right now, we’re doing some fogging of the air inside the buildings. We’re using some other treatments. There is always new treatments coming down the pike and we need the research behind it.”
Jared Black, a producer from northern Ohio tells Brownfield, “Making sure we’re blocking and tackling as best as we can. Having more transparency where are our trucks are and being more cognizant on the routing that we have and tracking individual trucks and drivers and doubling down of the washing and disinfecting protocols we have.”
Dean Frazer, of central Iowa, says the industry’s National Swine Health Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for combating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, or PRRS. “It’s cost us hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars. We know this is a big undertaking, but we need to start the process to try and eliminate PRRS and that’s going to start on a regional and local basis and then expand the program.”
The National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and state associations, have developed the plan to help safeguard against diseases like PRRS, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) and Swine Influenza Virus.
