Farms.com Home   News

Canada launches African Swine Fever prevention and preparedness program

No case has ever been found in Canada, but the disease has had a major impact in countries like Asia, Europe and the Carribean.

African Swine Fever is a fatal swine disease.

Earlier this week, Ottawa announced applications are now open for Agriculture Canada's African Swine Fever prevention and preparedness program. 

Funding for the new program will support projects such as biosecurity assessments and improvements, wild pig management, the retrofit of existing abattoirs, sector analysis and ASF-related research.

Rick Bergmann, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council says he's pleased to see Ottawa stepping up to help protect the industry.

"The outcome which is most important out of all of this, is that we're able to ensure that we've got a very, very strong position in regards to prevention in our country. Also looking at aspects of if we do get it, ... how do we deal with it and so on. But a lot of focus on prevention."

Bergmann says with 70 per cent of our production destined for export, a single case (ASF) would result in the immediate closure of the border and our export markets.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

CEO’s of the Industry | John Prestage – Prestage Farms

Video: CEO’s of the Industry | John Prestage – Prestage Farms

Leadership, Legacy & the Future of Pork and Poultry

CEO’s of the Industry, Jim Eadie sits down with John Prestage, CEO of Prestage Farms, one of the largest family-owned pork and poultry companies in the United States.

From its beginnings under founder Bill Prestage to its evolution into a multi-state, vertically integrated protein company, this conversation explores what it takes to scale responsibly while staying rooted in family values.

John shares how Prestage Farms balances growth, culture, and innovation across both pork and poultry, and how leadership transitions within a family business can strengthen — not dilute — a company’s mission.