BioSec Bob here on Saturday, April 11, 2026 — let’s get into it.
Starting with the poultry side: Morning Ag Clips is highlighting wild bird biosecurity as a critical control point for commercial flocks. Producers need to understand that migratory waterfowl and other wild species can carry avian influenza and Newcastle disease without showing symptoms themselves. The focus is on keeping wild birds away from feed, water, and equipment — screening air intakes, removing standing water where birds congregate, and preventing direct contact between wild and domestic flocks. It’s a year-round commitment, not just seasonal concern.
Over in the swine sector, Pork Business is reporting on research from North Carolina State University where Mark Knauer has been drilling down on mortality patterns in commercial herds. Knauer’s work identifies specific periods where mortality spikes can be predicted and potentially prevented through targeted management. The research tracks how different stressors — weather shifts, transport, mixing — correlate with death loss, giving producers data-driven windows where heightened monitoring pays off.
Shifting our focus internationally: The Star is confirming Japan has detected a new classical swine fever outbreak in Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. This marks another incursion of the disease in Japan after previous eradication efforts. The outbreak has triggered immediate movement restrictions in the affected area and heightened testing of neighboring herds. For U.S. producers, Japan remains a significant export market, and any disease confirmation there typically tightens import protocols.
Back to poultry research — the Stuttgart Daily Leader is announcing that the ARA Project Scope webinar scheduled for April 22 will focus on predictive models for poultry pathogens. The session will cover emerging tools for early detection and forecasting disease risk across different production systems, giving producers insight into where the science is heading on prevention strategy.
Here’s one drawing some real attention: Michigan Farm News reports the USDA is investing $2 million into studying whether catmint oil can help combat avian influenza. Researchers are testing the essential oil’s antiviral and immune-boosting properties in poultry. This is exploratory work — no guarantees yet — but it reflects the agency’s push to find non-pharmaceutical tools in the bird flu fight.
Finally, north of the border, the Manitoba Co-operator covered this week’s Manitoba Pork Annual General Meeting, where tariff exposure and biosecurity dominated the conversation. Canadian producers are watching U.S. trade policy closely while also reinforcing on-farm disease protocols. The dual pressure of market access and herd health protection is reshaping operational priorities across the province.
Keep your guard up — biosecurity talk’s getting louder for a reason.