PED Virus Takes Emotional Toll On Producers

Feb 27, 2015

The Province of Ontario now has 76 confirmed cases of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus.

The latest case was confirmed February 20th on a farrow-to-finish farm in Oxford County.

Dr. Sue Burlatshenko was one of the first veterinarians to deal with the disease when it emerged in Ontario in early 2014.

She says the disease can have an emotional impact on hog producers.

"It's hard on them, we care for our animals," said Burlatshenko. "They took it very personally. We would talk a lot on the phone and it's actually almost like a mutual support system. Talking is good, telling them 'you're going to get over it' and you get to the 4 to 5 week period and the light at the end of the tunnel's there and it becomes better again. Just being there is important, all of us - not just vets, but other producers, the industry."

There have been five on-farm confirmed cases of the PED virus here in Manitoba.

Source: PortageOnline

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.