Here it is.
In some areas, pork prices are at an all-time high of $3.83 a pound!
Get ready for another spike in pork prices! Is anyone following the story of PED? It’s “
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea and it’s a viral infection we can’t cure. It’s highly contagious and scientists are baffled. No one even knows where it came from. America's pig farmers are devastated. Since the summer of last year, seven million piglets have died in the USA because of the virus. Our total
hog “herd” is about 63 million.
The PED virus was first diagnosed in Ohio last May, but now has spread across 30 states – with no cure in sight! The USDA has asked the pork industry to track its spread and positive steps have been taken to open more communication. Most farmers believe PEDv is transmitted by contact with pig manure. However, PEDv does not pose a risk to human health and it is not a food safety issue according to the USDA.
The virus is nearly identical to that previously found in the Anhui province in China according to the journal of the American Society of Microbiology. Researchers are exploring the widespread use of pig-blood byproducts. Has the virus infected on the United States? No. Canada reports widespread cases as well as Japan, China, Mexico, parts of South America, and Europe.
Throughout America, farmers are insisting on “biosecurity” measures. Some
hog farmers now prohibit outside visitors while others require workers to change clothes when entering and leaving barns. Truck drivers wipe down the steps into their cabs, disinfect their steering wheels and change boots or even wear disposable booties before entering farm yards.
The National Pork Board has spent about $1.7 million researching the virus, which is nearly always fatal in pigs younger than 21 days. With pork prices at an all-time high of $3.83 a pound, the loss of baby pigs cuts into profits for
hog farmers.
Hang on folks! This is going to be a rough one!
