Saskatchewan to benefit from funding boost for pork development
The money will be used to help deliver a new phase in the Saskatchewan Swine Biosecurity Program, which aims to prevent the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv) during the transport of hogs.
The investment provides funding for a truck wash, transport audits by certified veterinarians and education on transport biosecurity, said Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Producers will also be able to access funding for follow-up veterinary visits to assess any biosecurity protocols that were implemented during previous phases of the program.
Eligible producers will receive up to CA$700 for truck wash and transport audits, and up to CA$300 for a follow-up veterinarian visit, said Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
To date, more than CA$1m has been committed to PEDv prevention, surveillance and response, under government programs Growing Forward 1, in 2012, and Growing Forward 2, in early 2014. There have been no confirmed cases of PEDv in Saskatchewan.
Lyle Stewart, minister for agriculture, Saskatchewan, said: "We have been working with industry groups and producers to prevent the spread of PEDv in Saskatchewan. It is critical that this work continues. This funding will help to prevent PEDv from affecting our province’s swine herd."
Canadian agriculture minister Gerry Ritz added: "Continued vigilance against PEDv is necessary to ensure any risk for the sector is diminished. This next phase of programming will help the Saskatchewan pork industry to continue to stay in front of this disease."
