BioSec Bob here on Wednesday, September 30, 2026—let’s get right into it.
Starting on the research front, the AG Information Network of the West is reporting that Southeast universities have landed new poultry research funding. That money will support work on production efficiency, disease management, and sustainability practices across the region’s operations. The investment reflects ongoing confidence in advancing poultry science through academic partnerships, giving producers access to data-driven solutions coming out of university labs.
Over in Georgia this morning, a massive poultry house fire prompted emergency response crews in Ellijay. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, firefighters battled the blaze at the facility, and the scale of the operation meant significant resources were deployed to contain it. Details on cause and bird mortality are still being assessed, but it’s a reminder of the infrastructure risks producers manage every day.
Turning to the swine side and some international context—The Wildlife Society is reporting on a broader concern: African swine fever could drive Asian wild pigs toward extinction. The disease has decimated wild populations across Asia as it spreads through regions where wildlife and domestic herds overlap. While that’s primarily a conservation story, it underscores how thoroughly ASF is established in that part of the world and the scale of the challenge globally.
On the supply side, Vietnam.vn reports that Ha Tinh province has controlled an African swine fever outbreak in a limited area, which is stabilizing pork supply for the end of the year. The province acted quickly to contain spread and maintain production capacity, preventing broader disruption to domestic supply heading into the final quarter.
Switching back to poultry trade, rapporteur.com is reporting that a Brussels audit has cleared the path for Brazilian chicken exports to resume. The European Union completed its audit of Brazilian processing facilities and food safety protocols, and the results opened the door for shipments to resume to EU markets. That’s significant for global poultry trade flows and pricing dynamics as major suppliers come back online.
And finally, Pork Business is covering a technology angle: researchers are using deep learning to detect wildlife disease risks at swine deadstock sites. The artificial intelligence tools can analyze imagery and environmental factors to identify conditions that might attract wildlife and create disease transmission pathways. It’s an example of how producers can use newer monitoring tools to tighten biosecurity at disposal and deadstock management points.
Keep your eye on that ASF situation overseas—it’s worth staying current on.