In ongoing efforts to prepare governments, industry and hog producers for a possible future outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published an update to its planning document, known as the ASF Red Book.

The update brings clarity to what happens on the farm if an ASF infection is detected and what the process is for other farms in the area not experiencing an outbreak to get back to business.

“We worked pretty hard to get the permitting guidance in there,” Iowa State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand said last week. “This update allows us to point to the permitting guidance as an example for states to follow.”

Kaisand chairs the U.S. Animal Health Association’s (USAHA) swine committee, which developed an...