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Pork Checkoff Increases Commitment to Combatting PEDV

Following a unanimous vote by its board of directors, the National Pork Board has committed to investing an additional $350,000 toward research, education and coordination of efforts to better understand Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, or PEDV. This increase in funding is in addition to $450,000 announced in June, bringing total Checkoff dollars invested to $800,000.

"Our No. 1 priority is to contain spread of the virus with the goal of increasing the potential to eliminate the disease," said Dr. Paul Sundberg, vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board. "Through research we just completed, we already have determined that transportation of sows and market hogs can be a major risk factor in the spread of PEDV."

Toward that end, Sundberg said the next step is to assemble a core team of pork producers, veterinarians, packers and processers to refine a specific biosecurity approach.

"The collaboration we have received in just the first two months of study is outstanding. Each day we learn more about PEDV and its impact, so these additional funds for timely research and national coordination will allow us to help pork producers better address the virus, while preparing us for other potential emerging disease scenarios," Sundberg said.

The virus was first identified in U.S. swine herds in mid-May, and as of mid-July, 346 cases of PEDV have been confirmed in 14 states, with most in Iowa and Oklahoma.

"Pork producers immediately responded to PEDV. We have already learned so much through increased cooperation among state and federal agencies, professional organizations, associations and from the information pork producers have willingly shared," said National Pork Board president Karen Richter, who raises hogs and farms with her family in Montgomery, Minn. "Our focus on research, education and the sharing of information is exactly where we need to provide Checkoff funds. This investment will contribute to a stronger organized effort and industry."

Full story: Pork.org