Ag Secretary Vilsack Requests $500 Mllion for African Swine Fever Control

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continues to invest resources to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from entering the United States. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has formally requested $500 million from the Office of Management and Budget to control the movement of the deadly swine disease from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Sec. Vilsack reports that $500 million does not go as far as some might think, as it’s possible the U.S. could spend $200 million just on indemnity in the Dominican Republic alone. APHIS estimated the disease could cost $50 billion in lost pork exports over the next decade if the virus enters the U.S.

Read more on USDA’s efforts to prevent African swine fever here.