Additional Secure Pork Supply Workshops Planned

Additional Secure Pork Supply (SPS) workshops have been scheduled by UMN Swine Swine Extension in January.  University of Minnesota Extension’s swine team is continuing to collaborating with Dr. Dave Wright, Minnesota’s SPS coordinator appointed by the MN Board of Animal Health, to provide swine producers the opportunity to create their farm’s SPS plan. 

Additional workshops will be held at these dates and sites:

• Tuesday, January 8, 2019, 1:00—4:00 p.m. - Renville County Government Center, Room 117, Olivia MN
• Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon - SMSU Conference Center Room 211, 310 Welfald Drive, Marshall, MN
• Monday, January 14, 2019, 1:00-4:00 p.m. - Pine Country Bank, 750 County Road 21, Rice, MN
• Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 1:00-4:00 p.m. - West Central Research & Outreach Center, AgCountry Auditorium, 46352 State Hwy, Morris, MN

Click HERE for a printable brochure.

Participants are asked to bring a personal or farm laptop, copies of the farm’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the site’s national Premises ID Number and 911 address.

Cost for the workshop is $15/person which includes materials and refreshments. 

Registration is encouraged and is available online at z.umn.edu/SPSregistration or by calling 507.389.6714. 

If you have questions, please contact Diane DeWitte, UM Extension swine educator, at stouf002@umn.edu or 507.384.1745.

Swine diseases and the threat of Foreign Animal Diseases (FAD) are a danger to US pork production.  If foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), or African Swine Fever (ASF) are found in livestock in the United States, regulatory officials will limit the movement of animals and animal products to try to control the devastating losses and spread of these very contagious diseases. 

The Secure Pork Supply plan provides for producers’ continuity of business in the event of an outbreak.  Voluntary creation of a farm-specific SPS plan will allow swine farms with healthy animals to continue to transport pigs to market or to another swine farm under a movement permit.

The goals of the SPS workshops for producers include:  

1. Producers can complete the SPS plan with the least inconvenience to their schedule
2. Participants will know how to monitor their herd for signs of FMD, CSF, and ASF
3. Producers will go home with their own SPS plan in hand, and Minnesota swine producers will be ready with a functional disease response plan when a disease outbreak occurs.