Swine Health Advisory Committee Sets Five Focus Areas

Jun 29, 2026

The Swine Health advisory committee is focused on turning strategy into action. To help advance the National Swine Health Strategy, the committee identified five focus areas that will drive action and measurable progress for U.S. pork producers.

A Producer-Led Push for Swine Health
Pork producers need a swine health strategy that actually works on the farm. The Swine Health advisory committee was created to make sure that happens.

For the inaugural meeting in May, the advisory committee’s twenty-seven producers, veterinarians, USDA staff and packers/processors met in Des Moines and left with a clear direction: build on what’s working and accelerate action. The National Swine Health Strategy (NSHS) only succeeds if it reflects producers’ needs, and the advisory committee is responsible for ensuring it delivers.

The advisory committee identified five focus areas to drive measurable progress in swine health.

The Top 5 Focus Areas Driving Progress

Build Industry Buy-In for the NSHS

First, the committee will secure broad industry support for the NSHS. That means engaging state pork associations, industry organizations and producers directly to build support, strengthen participation, and ensure the strategy reflects actual needs on the farm.

Advance PEDV Elimination Framework

Accelerating progress toward a national PEDV elimination framework is a critical step outlined by the advisory committee. The team will identify practical next steps, address industry barriers, and dive deeper into transportation sanitation and the status of PEDV vaccine technology. Economic and feasibility analyses are also being prioritized to help producers weigh adoption decisions.

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Video: Inside the National Swine Health Strategy - Dr. Dustin Oedekoven

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, Chief Veterinarian at the National Pork Board, explains the producer-led National Swine Health Strategy and why it is essential for improving U.S. swine health. He discussed industry collaboration, the strategy's initial priorities, why PEDV is the first focus for elimination, research initiatives, and the long-term vision for healthier herds. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The National Swine Health Strategy creates a coordinated approach that moves the entire industry toward common health goals."

Meet the guest: Dr. Dustin Oedekoven / dusty-oedekoven-bb0bb7110 is Chief Veterinarian at the National Pork Board, where he leads initiatives to strengthen U.S. swine health through disease prevention, producer collaboration, and the National Swine Health Strategy. With more than 20 years of experience in veterinary public health and regulatory animal health, his work focuses on protecting the U.S. herd from endemic and foreign animal diseases. Listen to Dr. Dustin Oedekoven on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.