NASDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pork Industry Announce Partnership
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Pork Board (NPB) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced a new partnership to enhance coordination and preparedness to prevent and protect the U.S. from African Swine Fever (ASF), a deadly pig disease that could cripple the entire agricultural sector with long-lasting ramifications for the economic viability of U.S. livestock production.
The partnership between these four entities aims to allow for the most effective harmonization of federal and state response plans to enable producers to prevent, plan and recover from ASF outbreaks, as well as encourage industry preparation for future outbreaks and disease response in other livestock sectors, which fosters rural food security and public confidence in the U.S. food system. The agencies say that the only way to stop African swine fever is through proper preparation and mitigation efforts.