BioSec Bob here on Sunday, September 20, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Starting with a tool that’s going to matter if your poultry operation ever faces HPAI. Morning Ag Clips is reporting that the poultry industry now has a new calculator designed to help producers rapidly estimate the resources they’d need for depopulation in the event of an outbreak. The calculator walks through labor requirements, equipment needs, and disposal logistics — the kind of planning that has to happen fast and accurately when a flock’s at risk. It’s built to cut down on guesswork when minutes and clarity count most.
Speaking of H5N1, the Avian Flu Diary is highlighting research published in the CDC’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases documenting something worth watching: during a backyard poultry outbreak in the United States in 2025, the virus was detected not just in birds, but in a cat and in rats on the same property. This tells us the virus can spill over into mammalian species on infected premises, which raises questions about how the virus moves through a farm environment and what other animals might be at risk of infection or becoming vectors.
Moving to Africa now — Taipei Times reports that South Sudan has officially joined the list of countries dealing with African Swine Fever for the first time. This is the country’s first confirmed ASF outbreak, adding South Sudan to the growing number of African nations managing the disease. That expands the geographic footprint of ASF on a continent where veterinary infrastructure and disease reporting capacity vary widely.
Back to poultry in the Upper Midwest — Urban Milwaukee is reporting that avian flu has returned to a Wisconsin poultry farm. The detection’s raising particular concern because of the state’s significant mink farming industry nearby. Mink are known to be susceptible to HPAI, and a farm with both commercial poultry and mink operations in proximity could create serious cross-contamination risk if the virus jumps between species.
On the swine genetics side, Feedstuffs reports that Hendrix Genetics has acquired full ownership of its swine business. The Dutch genetics company completed a buyout that gives it complete control of its swine breeding and genetics operations, consolidating ownership in what’s already a consolidated sector.
Finally, Farms.com is covering pork farmers actively pushing Congress to move on Farm Bill negotiations. The National Pork Producers Council and other industry groups are pressing lawmakers to finalize a new five-year farm bill rather than extend the current one, wanting certainty on commodity support, crop insurance, and other critical programs that farmers rely on for planning.
Lot happening on both sides of your operation — stay on top of it.