BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — let’s get straight to the morning briefing.
Pork Business is reporting that global swine disease surveillance data shows African Swine Fever and Foot-and-Mouth Disease remain elevated risks for producers worldwide. The surveillance systems are tracking concerning patterns in disease prevalence and geographic spread, with ASF particularly dominant in certain regions. The data underscores how quickly these diseases move across borders and production areas, and why real-time monitoring networks matter to every operation watching their herd health.
Over at Farms.com, Swaminathan Jayaraman takes a closer look at how data analytics are being used to predict swine disease outbreaks before they happen. Producers and veterinarians are increasingly leaning on historical records, weather patterns, and herd movement data to forecast disease risk — essentially giving operations a window to tighten biosecurity or move preventive measures into place. The approach is shifting disease response from reactive to predictive, which changes how producers plan their year.
Moving north of the border, National Hog Farmer reports that Canada’s pork industry has launched the Pork Research Hub, a new collaborative platform aimed at advancing swine health research and production science. The hub is designed to connect producers, researchers, and equipment manufacturers around shared challenges — pooling resources on problems like disease management, feed efficiency, and animal welfare. It’s a significant infrastructure play for Canada’s hog sector.
Back in the United States, swine health took center stage at an event held in Indiana, according to National Hog Farmer. Producers and veterinarians gathered to discuss current threats, biosecurity best practices, and emerging tools for herd management. The timing reflects the industry’s focus on protecting animals as disease pressures remain volatile heading into the second half of the year.
Shifting to poultry for a moment — The Poultry Site is reporting that small meat processors across the country are receiving $80 million in federal support from the USDA. The funding is designed to help independent and mid-sized processing facilities upgrade infrastructure, improve food safety, and increase capacity. For producers working with smaller, regional processors, this investment could strengthen the supply chain they depend on.
And out of Serbia this morning, the Serbian Monitor notes that a high-level meeting was convened to address African Swine Fever concerns. Officials and industry representatives gathered to coordinate response measures and discuss containment strategies as the disease remains a threat in the region. For US producers watching the global market, ASF activity anywhere can eventually ripple across trade and supply dynamics.
Keep your disease alerts close and your protocols closer.