National Pork Board Sponsors Five Exercises

The National Pork Board (NPB) is sponsoring full-scale state emergency preparedness exercises, partnering with five states, including Kansas, in 2022. Over four days, each state will start with a foreign animal disease investigation and conclude with depopulation and disposal.

The goals of the exercise are to:

1. Practice a foreign animal disease investigation (FADI) on a hog farm.

2. Provide an environment where a state can practice its depopulation and disposal planning processes and implement depopulation and disposal activities in a realworld situation.

3. Increase stakeholder understanding and build producer confidence in a state‘s FADI and depopulation and disposal activities.

4. Explore how National Pork Board‘s AgView traceability platform can be used to augment a FADI or a subsequent epidemiological investigation.

The FAD exercise project is funded by the Pork Checkoff and is being implemented under its Local, Regional FAD Prevention and Preparedness initiative. Keeping African Swine Fever (ASF) out of the U.S. and preparing for any foreign animal disease (FAD) like ASF remains a top priority for NPB in 2022 as identified by its producer leadership.

During Day 1 and 2 of the exercise, participants including Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division, Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Composting experts, and USDA personnel worked in teams to plan for a depopulation and disposal event. The farmer and the veterinarian doing the on-site foreign animal disease investigation were in periodic contact with the group via meeting technology.

The Kansas Pork Association has been working with the National Pork Board and KDA for almost two years to design and build equipment for a depopulation event.

Equipment made for other tasks has had to be repurposed to fit as many possible scenarios as possible.

Day 1 of the exercise will focus on the processes and procedures associated with a host producer and/or their herd veterinarian suspecting and reporting a FAD. In addition to the resultant FADI, representatives from NPB will work with state animal health officials to explore how using the AgView platform could inform the initial FADI or assist with movement tracing if required.

Day 2 of the exercise will focus on depopulation and disposal planning, including the development of a herd plan and the settlement of indemnity for the affected operation.

Day 3 of the exercise will be devoted to site preparation for depopulation and disposal. The day will involve staging supplies, equipment, and animals as well as setting up site security. Approximately 100 cull sows will be used for the exercise.

Day 4 of the exercise will focus on implementing the depopulation and disposal plans developed by the state.

These exercises are in collaboration with each state‘s pork association, the state‘s Department of Agriculture, and local, state, and federal agencies and institutions. Many of these states have previously participated in planning exercises; however, this will be the first time a full-scale exercise will be implemented that puts all of the pieces together.

These exercises also provide the opportunity for state personnel needing hands-on composting hours to work toward their Subject Matter Expert certification from the University of Maine Compost School.

Securing equipment, supplies, and personnel necessary to implement a depopulation and disposal plan is critical. This exercise provides the opportunity to put plans into action, train personnel on equipment, work through alternative scenarios, and develop contingency plans.

Composting was the choice for disposal in this exercise. Participants operated in high winds with a rain-and-snow mix. Due to weather, modifications had to be made to the set-up and operation of the equipment as well as observer and worker safety protocols. These exercises will assist states in finding planning gaps and aid in the continuous improvement of their emergency planning.

“These functional field exercises provide an opportunity to operate in a real-life situation and offer a way to identify strengths and gaps in response for an FAD or animal health challenge. While no one wants an FAD outbreak, being prepared is absolutely critical to protecting animal agriculture. Trying to understand gaps in response cannot effectively be accomplished in the heat of a crisis. The knowledge and hands-on experience gained in these exercises is invaluable and is actively shared with not only direct participants but all who are involved in an emergency response.“

-- Lisa Becton, DVM, Director of Swine Health with the National Pork Board