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: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.