BioSec Bob here on Friday, August 7, 2026 — let’s dig into what’s moving the needle this morning.
The USDA’s putting $35 million toward feral swine control across the country. According to pig333, the funding will support removal operations, research, and prevention work in states where feral populations are causing real damage to agriculture and native ecosystems. That money’s going to states hardest hit — places where feral herds are competing directly with commercial operations for feed and water, and creating disease pressure nobody needs.
Now, staying on the swine side but shifting to something happening right at your farm gate. Pork Business is raising the alarm about water line biosecurity, and they’re asking producers a hard question: how confident are you that your water delivery system isn’t becoming a disease vector? It’s not the flashy vulnerability — everyone watches trucks and personnel — but contaminated water lines can spread pathogens straight into your barns before you even know there’s a problem.
On producers’ actual day-to-day worries, National Hog Farmer’s latest survey shows PRRS, labor shortages, and facility maintenance are the top three concerns keeping hog farmers up at night right now. Those aren’t new problems, but they’re staying front and center as producers plan their fall operations and budget for the year ahead.
Across the Atlantic, African Swine Fever is closing in on one of Europe’s most valuable heritage genetics. The Canadian Press is reporting that Tuscany’s rare Cinta Senese breed is under serious threat as ASF spreads through Italy. That breed’s been integral to Tuscan agriculture for centuries, and losing it would be a real blow to the region’s food heritage.
Meanwhile, over in Ghana, the surveillance picture for African Swine Fever is getting muddied. Three Tres Three reports that pig farmers there are reluctant to report sick animals or allow herd testing, which means the disease’s true footprint in the country is probably much larger than official data shows. Without farmer cooperation, health officials can’t get an accurate handle on spread.
On a brighter note, a University of Missouri researcher is giving pork producers a practical tool for extreme heat stress. Pork Business reports the work’s focused on genetics and management practices that help hogs maintain performance and welfare when temperatures spike — something every producer dealing with summer conditions knows matters more every year.
Keep those biosecurity fundamentals tight — both the visible ones and the ones you don’t usually think about.