PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) stands as the most economically devastating disease in US swine production since the eradication of classic swine fever. What makes this viral pathogen so destructive? Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, brings seven years of front-line experience battling PRRS to this essential conversation.

The days of PRRS being merely a seasonal concern have vanished. Modern producers now face this challenge year-round across operations of all sizes and geographic locations. Dr. Lauterbach explains how PRRS manifests through its namesake symptoms – reproductive failures (including abortions and stillbirths) and respiratory distress that weakens immune defenses. This immunosuppression creates the perfect storm for secondary bacterial infections that would otherwise pose little threat to healthy pigs.

Prevention through rigorous biosecurity remains the gold standard approach, but when PRRS threatens, a comprehensive strategy becomes essential. Dr. Lauterbach details Pharmgate's multi-faceted approach, highlighting their PRRS Guard vaccine, which has demonstrated efficacy against relevant wild-type strains. For herds experiencing active infection, managing secondary bacterial complications becomes crucial – another area where Pharmgate offers proven solutions.

Ready to strengthen your PRRS defense strategy? Visit Pharmgateph.com or connect with the Pharmgate team at the upcoming World Pork Expo to learn how their experience and solutions can work for your operation.

Taste is taking center stage as the National Pork Board unveils a bold new strategy to transform how consumers—especially younger generations—think about pork. Sarah Showalter and Neal Hull reveal how deep consumer insights are reshaping the future of pork marketing in America.

At the heart of this transformation is a surprising disconnect: millennials and Gen Z consumers who claim they "don't eat pork" while enthusiastically consuming bacon, ribs, pepperoni, and sausage. This revelation has sparked a strategic pivot from positioning pork as merely a center-of-plate protein to showcasing it as a versatile ingredient in culturally-inspired recipes that younger consumers already love—like potstickers, tonkatsu, stir-fries, and carnitas.

The new "Taste What Pork Can Do" campaign leverages fascinating consumer trends, including the explosion of air fryers (now more common in American homes than coffee makers) and growing interest in smokers and grilling. By targeting specific consumer segments—from "confident meat eaters" who love grilling to "culinary adventurers" seeking new flavors—the Pork Board is meeting consumers where they are while highlighting pork's unmatched versatility. The campaign represents a long-term commitment to making pork relevant for future generations, embracing a "whole hog" approach that celebrates both fresh cuts and processed products while honoring pork's cultural significance across diverse communities.

Subscribe to Feedstuffs in Focus for more conversations about the innovations and strategies shaping the future of food and agriculture.

The safety nets protecting America's agricultural workforce are unraveling. Dr. Jeff Bender, Director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), reveals the far-reaching consequences of recent budget cuts to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - cuts that have already eliminated 85% of the agency's workforce.

For fourteen years, UMASH has served as a vital resource for farmers, agricultural workers, and rural communities across the Upper Midwest, and beyond. Under the recent cuts to NIOSH, the center's funding is set to expire in September.

Using a "One Health" approach and recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, the center has pioneered innovative solutions to complex problems. From training rural volunteer firefighters to handle farm emergencies to researching better respiratory protection in swine and dairy facilities, UMASH projects, past and present, address real-world challenges that commercial interests typically overlook.

For more information on UMASH, visit: https://umash.umn.edu/about-the-center/