The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, also known as SHIP, is designed to protect the pork industry from foreign animal diseases.
Jason Probst, a National Pork Producers Council Delegate, has been involved in SHIP since its early stages and highlights its critical role in maintaining market stability.
According to Probst, “The U.S. SHIP idea started back in probably 2019-2020 by some of the vets in the industry. They were looking at the concern with foreign animal disease coming to the U.S., mainly African swine fever and classical swine fever. And so, there’s concern of if it came to the U.S., what would that do to our exports of product. Because if those foreign animal diseases are found in the U.S., that would immediately stop our exports of pork products, and so, in turn, approximately 25% of our production would stay domestically and would kind of potentially overburden our markets.”
He says that producers must follow specific biosecurity practices to get certified under SHIP. It will help producers prioritize product movement during a foreign animal disease outbreak.
Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
October 21, 2025 11:22 AM
·
Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.
October 21, 2025 11:06 AM
·
The USDA’s latest Hogs and Pigs Report caught some analysts off guard. Inventories came in lower than expected, signaling tighter supplies ahead, even as producers return to profitability this year.
October 20, 2025 04:06 PM
·
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
October 20, 2025 12:46 PM
·
Expect firm calf and fed-cattle prices — pair selective heifer retention with prudent hedging and liquidity to bridge rebuilding costs.
October 17, 2025 04:54 PM
·
The new antitrust agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to enforce antitrust laws and monitor market activity across the ag sector.
October 17, 2025 12:27 PM
·
