The Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan provides guidance to pig farmers that helps proactively protect their herds from disease threats, including foreign animal diseases (FADs). As with all things related to farming, new information and advancements create opportunities for improvement – as a result, the SPS recently went through a review and update that strengthens its effectiveness and usability.
An advisory group of producers, veterinarians, and other state, federal, and industry partners updated the plan, making it easier to use with more clarity and better alignment with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ASF permitting guidance.
What is the Secure Pork Supply Plan?
Producers often ask me, “What’s the SPS Plan and what does it mean for me?” Here’s my typical answer:
I like to think of the SPS Plan as guidance for producers to prepare for a FAD outbreak. It doesn’t cost much to prepare, yet it provides peace of mind if an outbreak were to occur.
Participation in the SPS is voluntary, but when followed, it guides pork producers through steps that will strengthen their farm’s resilience in the event of foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), African swine fever (ASF) or any other FAD that shows up in the U.S. Following the SPS guidance improves a producer’s ability to:
- Keeping herds safer with stronger biosecurity
- Monitor for disease and identify signs of FADs early
- Getting permission to move pigs even during an outbreak
SPS Updates Improve Guidance and Usability
As an industry, we recognize that the SPS requires consistent review and revision to ensure it provides the best and most relevant guidance.
Updates to the plan include the following:
- Traceability: Producers should keep 30 days of animal movement records electronically. Tools like AgView® can be used to store these records.
- Enhanced Biosecurity: The updated plan offers simplified biosecurity templates and checklists tailored for indoor and outdoor operations (including feral swine mitigation), exhibition pigs and small farms. While the term “Perimeter Buffer Area” was removed, the concept remains. Anything crossing the Line of Separation must be cleaned and disinfected.
- Disease Monitoring: The SPS emphasizes the value of training on-farm individuals through the Certified Swine Sample Collector program. More trained sample collectors means a faster, streamlined process for disease monitoring.
- Permit Guidance: The movement permit criteria summary is simplified, and permit guidance aligns with USDA’s ASF National Continuity of Business Permitting Guidance.
These updates maintain the same protection standards in place, while providing clear rules and better preparation methods for producers to keep pigs moving during an outbreak.
Resources for Customized SPS Plans
In an industry where uncertainty is inevitable, preparation is one of producers’ most effective risk-management tools.
Producers can develop customized plans that align with industry expectations…before a disease event ever occurs. Free tools, templates and training resources are available to better understand the SPS Plan and develop farm- or site-specific plans aligned with industry guidance.
Take Action – Create Your SPS Plan
The SPS Plan takes a proactive approach to disease preparedness by strengthening biosecurity, improving animal traceability and supporting early disease detection.
