MSU Extension Pork

Secure Pork Supply (SPS) planning is the effort of the pork industry to protect as much of itself as possible from loss if a highly contagious animal disease with severe consequences (also known as highly consequential disease or foreign animal disease [FAD]) were to occur.

Impacts

SPS planning provides a workable and strategic business continuity plan for pork operations and enhances the swiftness of an industry response to an FAD outbreak. Secure Food Supply plans have been developed at a national level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and commodity groups. These plans provide recommendations for producers, government, and others for developing and implementing secure supply efforts.
In Michigan, a task force with leadership from MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and with representation from the Michigan Pork Producers Association formed in 2018 to address SPS and Michigan’s response to an FAD. At this time, the SPS plan primarily focused on African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been identified as a major risk for the swine industry. However, the work of this task force will develop the plans for response to any FAD and cover all animal industries in Michigan.

Priority Areas

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s pork team is co-responsible for the development of an SPS plan at a state level and for individual pork operations. The goal of the plan is to design a workable business continuity strategy for pork operations with no evidence of the FAD infection. 

$500 MILLION of value is generated from Michigan’s pork industry annually.

$1.4 MILLION is generated every day that the Michigan swine industry continues in business.

2,691 pig farms in Michigan will be better prepared for business continuity in the case of FAD because of SPS.

Having the SPS plan implemented prior to an FAD outbreak enhances coordination and communication between all stakeholders. It is intended to speed up
a successful FAD response and support continuity of business for pork producers and its supporting industries. This in turn will minimize losses to the farmers as they work through the requirements and regulations associated with an outbreak. The SPS plan provides guidance only. In an actual outbreak, decisions will need to be made by the responsible regulatory officials and the industry based on the unique characteristics of each outbreak.

50 - All states must be working together to create cohesiveness among states in their response plans and permitted movement requirements. This is particularly true of our neighboring states: Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. 

80% of the pigs grown and raised in Michigan are owned by producers that have taken steps to mitigate the risks of FAD by participating in SPS planning. 

$9,722,222 is the value of a 7-day shutdown of the pork industry, which would be considered short and concise in the face of an FAD outbreak and is considered relatively short for a coordinated response.