Reducing the spread of African Swine Fever

Aug 30, 2022

MELFORT, Sask. — The federal government is providing $45.3 million to increase efforts to reduce the risk of African Swine Fever (ASF) from entering Canada as well as prepare for a potential outbreak.

ASF is a fatal swine disease that spreads through both direct and indirect contact with infected pigs, pork, and pork by-products. Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the industry needs to be prepared for a timely and coordinated response to limit the potential impact of an outbreak.

Although Canada has never had a case of ASF, the disease continues to spread in several regions around the world.

There will be $23.4 million provided to support preparedness, like biosecurity assessments, coordination for wild pig management, retrofit of existing abattoirs, sector analysis and ASF-related research projects.

Canadian Pork Council chair, Rick Bergman, said the funding is significant for producers.

“We welcome the government’s investment towards keeping ASF out of our country and off our farms. We have seen the negative impact of ASF in other parts of the world which demonstrates the need for this collaboration between government and our sector,” Bergman said.

In addition, up to $19.8 million will be invested in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) prevention and preparedness efforts. It will support enhancement of laboratory capacity, establish zoning arrangements with additional trading partners, and contributing to international efforts to develop a safe and effective ASF vaccine.

More than 70 per cent of Canadian pork is exported, making it the third-largest pork exporting country in the world.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.