The Swine report

Researchers study Influenza D in pigs to assess human spillover risk

The influenza D virus that researchers say has been flying under the radar since its detection in animals in 2011 can vigorously make copies of itself in human cells and lung tissue samples, a new study shows. The findings suggest influenza D has strong potential to spill over to humans, the scientists say. Some people who work with cattle, considered the primary host for this virus, have been found to have influenza D antibodies in their blood, but no active human infection has been discovered to date. Results showed that several genetically different strains of influenza D that were isolated from cattle and pigs, another animal host, were as effective at replicating in cells from the human respiratory tract as influenza A viruses – the types of flu linked to both modern seasonal illness and historic pandemics. “All of the viruses, despite their genetic distance from each other, had similar replicative capacity in these human cells and human tissues,” said lead author Cody Warren, Read More

Registration now open for 15th annual Iowa Swine Day

The 15th annual Iowa Swine Day is set for Thursday, June 25, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Hosted by the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University, Iowa Swine Day is a one-day conference focused on topics vital to the U.S. pork industry.  Iowa Swine Day speakers are chosen by a planning committee of swine producers and allied industry representatives to ensure the program’s content is focused on current issues in today’s swine industry.  This year’s agenda includes sessions on gene editing, artificial intelligence and innovation in pork production, along with research updates and applied talks from university and industry experts. The program will kick off with a keynote address on innovation and leadership by Steve Lerch, former Google executive and president of Story Arc Consulting. This will be followed by the Lauren Christian Lecture on Swine Management and Genetics, given by Mike Paustian, who will address gene editing from a producer’s perspectivRead More

USDA Expands Farmer Surveys as Data Confidence Becomes a Priority

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving to include more producers in its upcoming agricultural surveys—an adjustment that signals something bigger than methodology. It signals a push to restore confidence. A Data System Under Pressure Recent USDA reports have faced growing scrutiny after lower participation rates and unexpected revisions raised questions across the industry. The March planting intentions report saw response rates fall to just 37.6%—the lowest on record—limiting the depth and reliability of the data behind one of agriculture’s most closely watched reports. For an industry that relies heavily on forward-looking signals—from acreage to supply expectations—that matters. Because when the data gets questioned, so do the decisions built on it. What’s Changing Through its statistical arm, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA is planning to: Expand the number of farmers surveyed by roughly 35% for its June acreage report IncreaseRead More