On August 4, a regular training was held for 15 specialists from state laboratories of veterinary and sanitary expertise at agro-food markets in Cherkasy region, where they learned how to respond in case of suspected contamination of pig products with the African swine fever virus. Given that the market sells live birds, they also worked on an algorithm of actions if highly pathogenic influenza was suspected in young birds sold at the market.

Registration for the IV module of the veterinary school starts, which the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders (AUPB) realizes under the grant cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Start on August 23, 12:45 am.

Jim Long Pork Commentary – August 7, 2023

Funding will support capital investments that enhance efficiency, productivity, environmental sustainability.

In July, the average value of the FAO meat price index was 117.8 points, which is 0.3% lower than in June and 5.1% lower than in the same period in 2022. This was reported by the FAO.

Funding will provide Canada with a dedicated vaccine source to support the CFIA and industry in the event of an outbreak.

Major Ukrainian farming companies are cutting planting area

russia left safe-corridor deal for Ukrainian exports in July

China will allocate 432 million yuan ($60 million) in flood relief funds to support agricultural output hit by heavy rainfall in eight provinces including Hebei, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.The fund is for replanting crops in flooded areas and purchasing goods to resume agricultural production, said the notification on the ministry's website.

On July 27, 2023, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in accordance with the implementation of the Ukrainian Project TCP/URK/3802 "Emergency Assistance to Improve Preparedness to Respond to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Ukraine", a technical audit and advice on improving the biosecurity system was conducted for small poultry farm owners, as well as training for industry representatives to disseminate best biosecurity practices.

Researchers are warning that, even with control measures quickly put in place, the U.S. pig industry would be impacted significantly by an outbreak of African swine fever, a disease likely to present a mortality rate of up to 100 percent among infected pigs. An outbreak could cost as much as $80 billion as it spreads through the southeastern U.S., the new study in Preventive Veterinary Medicine finds. Worse, because infected animals may be asymptomatic, the disease could quickly spread from farm to farm before it is detected.

The World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), which represents over 1.2 billion farmers worldwide, has taken a resolute stand against adopting lab-grown food as an alternative to the food resulting from the work of farmers.

This was reported by the Department of Civil Protection and Defense of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration.

USDA global pork production forecasts for 2023 remain virtually unchanged from the April forecast at 114.8 million tons, according to USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) global market report. 

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is preparing to build a new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence.

The Croatian government has donated one million euros to the WFP to help Ukrainian farmers resume work in the regions most affected by the explosive remnants of war. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. This is Croatia's largest donation to the WFP (UN).

Jim Long Pork Commentary – July 24, 2023

China is buying Brazilian soy for fourth-quarter delivery

That’s usually when the top buyer would turn to the US

Consumers are generally skeptical of gene editing or any alteration of food. As the development of gene-edited pigs gains appeal from pork producers, industry experts say the future of this technology depends on pork's transparency with consumers.

With the rapid rise in global population, the need to feed billions has placed tremendous pressure on agriculture. Millions of hectares of forests have been cut in South America, Asia and Africa to accommodate the swift expansion of farmlands. Local governments and multinational food companies are collaborating to enhance the farm productivity. Over the past couple of decades, enormous efforts have been made by the policymakers to enhance investments in agricultural infrastructure.

Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders  in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) to help employees of laboratories of agro-food markets to respond correctly and promptly in case of suspicion that live animals or livestock products are infected. In order to present and discuss the SOP directly with its implementers, a training was held for specialists of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection's epizootology departments and laboratory staff at agri-food markets. About 400 participants from all regions of Ukraine joined the online meeting.