The Swine Health Information Center is requesting broad industry input for the 2023 Plan of Work which will guide activities in the coming year. Input may include topic areas, research priorities, and identified industry needs in which SHIC should focus efforts, such as an emerging swine disease or an emerging swine health issue. Rather than restricting efforts of the Center, the Plan of Work provides a roadmap for the next year but remains flexible, allowing SHIC to react to issues of the industry as they occur in real-time while staying true to the organization’s mission. SHIC’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats, and analysis of swine health data.
Suggestions for the 2023 SHIC Plan of Work can be directed to SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org or 515-451-6652 or SHIC Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder at mniederwerder@swinehealth.org or 785-452-8270. Input and ideas are welcomed for the 2023 Plan of Work through December. Additional input and ideas are further welcomed anytime throughout the year to inform newly identified needs which may necessitate adapting or adjusting the Plan of Work.
Being nimble and responsive to realities in the US swine industry reflects SHIC’s mission and illustrates the Center’s strengths. For example, SHIC’s board of directors responded to recent swine health data analysis by shifting both focus and funds to establish the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program this year. Launched in July 2022, the new program was not specifically included in the 2022 Plan of Work when developed in January but allowed SHIC to respond quickly to an identified industry need and vulnerability. The 2022 Plan of Work, as published in January 2022, can be reviewed here. Information on the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program can be found here.
SHIC, launched by the National Pork Board in 2015 solely with Pork Checkoff funding, continues to focus efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response to novel and emerging swine disease for the benefit of US swine health. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. SHIC is funded by America’s pork producers to fulfill its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.