Secretary Naig Congratulates Glen Smith on Confirmation as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development

Aug 11, 2026

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today issued the following statement after the United States Senate confirmed Glen Smith of Atlantic to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

“Congratulations to Glen Smith on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to serve as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development. This is great news for rural Iowa and rural America. Glen is a lifelong Iowan with a distinguished record of supporting agriculture and investing in rural businesses, infrastructure and communities. He understands that strong rural communities are essential to a strong agricultural economy. I look forward to working with him to keep rural Iowa growing.”

Source : iowaagriculture.gov

Video: Managing Severe PRRS Outbreaks - Dr. Claire Mtezankuni

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Claire Mtezankuni, Swine Veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Service, discusses the growing severity of PRRS outbreaks in sow farms. She explains how respiratory disease and sow mortality are changing outbreak response, why necropsies and bacterial cultures can guide treatment, and how vaccination, biosecurity, pain management, and clear team communication support recovery and elimination. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Emerging PRRS strains can produce severe reproductive and respiratory disease simultaneously, creating substantial health challenges across sow farms during acute outbreaks.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Claire Mtezankuni / claire-mtezankuni-2529b1b3 is a Swine Veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Service in Illinois, where her work includes commercial farm veterinary leadership, herd health, disease elimination, and veterinary internship coordination. She holds a DVM from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Veterinary Science in Livestock Systems Health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Learn more from Dr. Claire Mtezankuni on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.