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Broad Reach Improves SHIC Research Results for Producer Benefit

The Swine Health Information Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary in July 2025. Launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, SHIC’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. This is accomplished by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. 

Research serves as a cornerstone of SHIC’s effort to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. “SHIC received the greatest number of research proposals and awarded the highest dollar amount for research projects in a single year in 2024,” said SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder. “Matching funds and external grants have enabled SHIC to leverage Pork Checkoff investment and at the same time, expand both research breadth as well as funding capacity to increase return on investment.” 

SHIC has made it a priority to broaden the reach of its requests for proposals, encouraging participation from a growing number of organizations across diverse regions within and outside of the US. Broadening the reach of RFP awareness will expand the network of scientists conducting critical swine health research, increase competitiveness of funding awards, and advance innovation for pork producers in the protection of herd health.

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Advancing Swine Disease Traceability: USDA's No-Cost RFID Tag Program for Market Channels

Video: Advancing Swine Disease Traceability: USDA's No-Cost RFID Tag Program for Market Channels

On-demand webinar, hosted by the Meat Institute, experts from the USDA, National Pork Board (NPB) and Merck Animal Health introduced the no-cost 840 RFID tag program—a five-year initiative supported through African swine fever (ASF) preparedness efforts. Beginning in Fall 2025, eligible sow producers, exhibition swine owners and State Animal Health Officials can order USDA-funded RFID tags through Merck A2025-10_nimal Health.

NPB staff also highlighted an additional initiative, funded by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services through NPB, that helps reduce the cost of transitioning to RFID tags across the swine industry and strengthens national traceability efforts.

Topics Covered:

•USDA’s RFID tag initiative background and current traceability practices

•How to access and order no-cost 840 RFID tags

•Equipment support for tag readers and panels

•Implementation timelines for market and cull sow channels How RFID improves ASF preparedness an