BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, October 20, 2026—let’s get right into it.
A commercial poultry flock in Barron County, Wisconsin has tested positive for highly pathogenic bird flu, according to WKOW. State agriculture officials confirmed the detection and the affected operation is under quarantine. This marks another confirmed case in Wisconsin’s ongoing battle with avian influenza this year, and producers across the Upper Midwest are urged to review their biosecurity protocols and monitor flocks closely for any signs of illness.
Over in Pennsylvania, swine producers are taking charge of their own disease control. Lancaster Farming is reporting that Pennsylvania swine farmers are leading coordinated elimination efforts against PRRS—porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. The state’s producers are working together on a voluntary program aimed at reducing the virus burden in their herds, focusing on testing protocols and herd management strategies to drive prevalence down across the region.
Staying with disease prevention, Farms.com and LANXESS have outlined five critical biosecurity steps that matter most in swine operations. The focus centers on preventing disease transmission through facility access control, personnel protocols, feed and water sanitation, equipment management, and visitor restrictions. Getting these fundamentals locked down is what separates herds that stay healthy from those that don’t.
On the innovation front, National Hog Farmer is tracking Wisconsin’s pilot program targeting porcine epidemic diarrhea, or PEDV. The state’s coordinated approach to managing this costly virus is generating results that other swine-producing states are watching closely. Wisconsin’s model emphasizes regional cooperation and targeted intervention strategies that could be adapted elsewhere as producers look for effective ways to control PEDV spread.
The calendar matters more than you might think. Pork Business reports that fall seasonal shifts are triggering a documented rise in swine viral activity across operations. Cooler temperatures, increased animal density indoors, and changing ventilation demands are creating conditions where respiratory and enteric viruses spread faster. Producers should expect elevated disease pressure through the winter months and plan their herd health calendars accordingly.
Finally, The Pig Site is digging into feed quality and its direct impact on pig performance. The research focuses on lipid quality in swine diets and how the composition and freshness of fats influence growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall herd health. Feed oxidation and lipid degradation can quietly erode performance gains, so it’s worth checking your ingredient sourcing and storage practices.
Keep your guard up—it’s the season for it.