BioSec Bob here on Thursday, July 30, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
The USDA is putting money on the table to help producers fight feral swine damage, according to RFD-TV. The department’s making funding available to states dealing with the destruction these wild pigs cause to crops, infrastructure, and livestock operations. It’s a direct response to the mounting costs producers face every year from rooting, trampling, and predation. The program targets areas where feral swine populations are causing the most economic harm, though specifics on application timelines and per-state allocations weren’t detailed in the announcement. For operations in high-pressure areas, this could mean real relief if you can access those funds.
On the disease front, researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are zeroing in on swine dysentery — a costly bacterial infection that hits the herd’s bottom line hard. National Hog Farmer is reporting that WCVM’s team is working on better understanding and management strategies for the disease, which causes significant mortality and production losses in affected barns. The research is aimed at giving producers practical tools to reduce outbreaks and keep disease pressure down. Details on their findings are still coming, but the focus on this particular challenge shows how seriously the research community’s taking producer needs.
Across the Pacific, Cebu City in the Philippines is now requiring African Swine Fever clearances for all hog and pork shipments entering the municipality, according to Cebu Daily News. It’s a tightening of biosecurity at the port of entry — shippers and traders moving product into the city will need to present ASF-negative documentation before goods can clear. The move reflects ongoing concern about ASF spread through trade channels in the region.
Meanwhile, African Swine Fever’s already taken hold in Assam, India. India Today NE is reporting that the disease reached Kaliabor, where one farmer lost livestock valued at nearly 20 lakh rupees — a devastating hit for a small operation. The outbreak underscores how quickly ASF can move into new geographic areas and the real financial consequences for producers who get caught in an outbreak zone.
Vietnam’s dealing with its own swine health headaches. According to Laodong News, authorities seized 35 tons of pigs testing positive for banned substances, while another group of 80 pigs remained infected with swine cholera. The contaminated animals were intercepted before they could enter the food chain, but it’s a reminder of the gaps that still exist in disease screening and product safety controls in some supply chains.
Stay on top of your biosecurity protocols — these stories are a steady reminder of how fast disease moves.