Swine Extension

The USDA recently announced African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed in the Dominican Republic . The following is a message from the Mn Board of Animal Health What can swine producers can do to protect Minnesota's herds? Practice biosecurity: Ask all visitors about recent travel outside the country. Do not let anyone who has been in an ASF-affected country onto your farm for at least five days after they enter the United States. Separate new pigs before bringing them into your herd and monitor them for signs of disease. If pigs become sick, separate them and contact your veterinarian. Don’t visit other swine farms. If you must visit another farm, take a shower and wash your clothing before and after your visit. Vehicles and tools can carry disease. Don’t share equipment with other farms and clean tools after use. Limit visitors to your farm and reduce on-farm traffic as much as possible. Know the signs of ASF: The virus can cause a wide range of clinical signs in infected pigs, and...

by Megan Roberts, Extension educator, Ag Business Management The United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency’s   Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)  opened for application by qualified livestock producers on July 20 and remains open until September 17. The program assists swine, chicken, and/or turkey producers who suffered financial losses due to depopulation related to COVID-19 disruptions, i.e. insufficient access to processing. Losses must have occurred between March 1 and December 26, 2020. Producers must have had  ownership  of the depopulated animals on the day of the loss. In other words, contract growers are not eligible for payment under this program. According to the USDA, "PLIP payments will compensate eligible producers for 80 percent of the loss of the eligible livestock or poultry, and for the cost of depopulation and disposal, based on a single payment rate per head. Any previous payments you received for disposal of yo...