FAD Communications Toolkit- Legislators
It’s important for our legislative partners and local leaders to understand the great lengths the Oklahoma Pork Industry goes to in order to keep consumers safe, our animals healthy, and our economic impact intact.
Key Message:
The collective pork industry in Oklahoma, and across the nation, takes great precaution to avoid any disease outbreaks, but should an outbreak occur, we are well prepared to react and to react quickly.
Many of the foreign animal diseases that are most concerning to food producers, like African Swine Fever, are diseases that exclusively impact pigs, meaning that even with an outbreak, there is no threat to public health and no food safety concerns.
For Legislators to understand how significant FAD threats are
It’s important that local, state, and national governments understand just how impactful an FAD outbreak in the US could be and just how important it is that our industries and local health officials are properly prepared.
The USDA says the results of African Swine Fever entering the US “would economically devastate pork producers, pig farmers, and anyone whose livelihood involves pigs.” Impacts would include:
Halt on all US pork and pork product exports
50% drop in hog prices
Widespread disruption in pork production
Significant job loss
For a more detailed research paper on the economic impact of an FAD in the United States, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development released this report in 2019. The report estimates the ten year economic impact of an FAD outbreak to be roughly $50 billion in lost pork industry revenue.
For Legislators who want to better understand fads
USDA Overview of specific FADs- African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever
For a more detailed Reportable Disease List, and information about when and how pork producers report concerns, share this page from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture
for Legislators to better understand our biosecurity practices
Share the Champion’s Guide to Youth Swine Exhibition to showcase how biosecurity is a focus from a young age and in all aspects of the industry.
Share the Secure Pork Supply Plan overview to highlight how pork producers, on a voluntary basis, work together to lower the risk of FAD outbreaks
Share NPBs FAD Preparation checklist to highlight actions that individuals producers and farmers take every day to help lower the risk of FADS
for Legislators who want to know about vaccine possibilities
As of the summer of 2022, there is currently no commercially available vaccine for African Swine Fever, considered the most significant FAD threat to the global pork industry. However the pork industry has been hard at work developing vaccine candidates for years, with a significant milestone being reached in April of 2022. You can read more about ASF vaccine progress in this article from the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
For those looking for a deeper, more complete fad education:
Though it’s always important to deliver clear, concise messages on foreign animal disease topics, it’s also valuable to make more detailed information available for those who want or require additional information.
A 16 page summary of Pork Checkoff-funded research on FADs including Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever, and more.
Dr. Lisa Becton, Director of Swine Health Information and Research for the National Pork Board, gives thorough 30 minute presentation on all things FAD impact and preparedness.