Benchmark Magazine Article Archive

Biosecurity is a top concern in the livestock industry since it affects performance, economic results and can even close markets for trading when catastrophic disease occur. Excellent examples of current international biosecurity concerns include African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), and Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) that could dramatically affect export sales.

As noted previously, humans are most likely to be the ones to bring in the African swine fever virus into Canada, either by bringing in contaminated meat, or by travelling with the virus on their clothes, footwear and personal items. Although the virus does not infect humans, it is very deadly for the pigs who come into contact with it. The introduction of African swine fever into Canada would put over 100,000 jobs in jeopardy and cost the Canadian economy $24 billion dollars.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease that causes high mortality in domestic and wild pigs. It, along with Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease, is one of the Big Three highly transmissible diseases that would stop our export markets cold if identified in the United States or Canada.

In the past, communication in farming was typically isolated. Social media can be a positive platform for agriculture to use to battle industry relevance, help to advance development, add value to the ag business and change the behavior of our audience.

What social media tool is best, what are the positives and negatives of social media, are there any guidelines to follow, and so on.