1. USDA funds available for expanded meat processing capacity
NPPC pointed out to USDA that larger plants are better able to capture economies of scale and can ship product interstate and overseas.
National Pork Producers CouncilNational Pork Producers Council
National Hog Farmer
July 20, 2026
The USDA began accepting applications for the fourth round of its Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, an effort supported by the National Pork Producers Council as a way to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, create better markets for producers and lower food costs. The MPPEP was launched in 2022.
A separate plan announced in June by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will support small and very small meat and poultry processing plants, improve customer service and reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining food safety protections for consumers.
USDA is making $60 million available to help eligible meat and poultry processors. The funding will be divided equally between small/very small processors and intermediate processors.
2. New Tool to Bolster Livestock and Poultry Disease Prevention
Vermontbiz.com
July 20, 2026
Every day, livestock and poultry producers put time and effort into keeping their animals disease-free. It can be a monumental goal considering how many people, vehicles, and even animals enter and exit a farm daily. Some of the pathways for disease transmission are not so obvious. A new mapping tool called the Secure Ag Farm Emergency Mapping App (SAFE MApp) gives producers the ability to visualize the potential entry points for diseases to the farm, and then strategize methods to keep them out.
This free and easy-to-use application can be accessed with an internet connection and a web browser; there is no need to purchase software. SAFE MApp uses Google Maps and Open Street Maps as a familiar base, and users simply enter an address to automatically pull up an aerial view of a location.
SAFE MApp accommodates many types of farm operations and needs such as:
A farm of any size.
Raising one or more types of farm animals.
Planning for daily disease prevention, foreign animal disease outbreak response, or natural disaster emergency response.
Although producers may not frequently encounter foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreaks, SAFE MApp was designed with these in mind to support the creation of Secure Food Supply plans. Producers, farm consultants, and state animal health officials are using SAFE MApp as they build "enhanced" plans that detail how a farm will prepare for and respond to an FAD outbreak.
Source: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/july/20/new-tool-bolster-livestock-and-poultry-disease-prevention
3. Study: Combo therapy reduces incidence of EHM, improves EHV-1 survival rates
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott EMC explored treating affected horses with both valacyclovir and heparin
Equus Magazine
July 20, 2026
New research from the team at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is "helping horses survive one of the most feared diseases in the industry," according to a recent post on the center's social media.
Image from Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott EMC social media
A study led by Megan Marchitello, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM); Krista E. Estell, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM); Elsa K. Ludwig, DVM, PhD, MS, CVA, DACVS-LA; Professor Emeritus Nathaniel White of Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center; and former Virginia State Veterinarian Abby M. Sage found that combining valacyclovir (an antiviral) with heparin (an anticoagulant) significantly reduced the incidence of equine herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the severe neurologic form of EHV-1. It also improved survival rates during naturally occurring outbreaks.
Looking back at a real-world EHV-1 outbreak, the team found that horses treated with the combination therapy had dramatically better outcomes than those that didn't receive it. This included several EHM-affected horses that survived and returned to work.
Full text: https://equusmagazine.com/news/combo-therapy-reduces-ehm-improves-ehv-1-survival
4. Estonians use drones to protect pig farms from African swine fever
Baltic News Network
July 20, 2026
Hunters in Estonia have started using drones to prevent the spread of African swine fever in domestic pig herds with new techniques, writes ERR News.
One of the five drones purchased by the Climate Ministry has ended up with hunters in Rapla County, where experienced hunter Ergo Viil recently learned how to fly it after more than 40 years of hunting. He said the drone is a valuable tool for finding wild boars and planning hunts - flying over fields, you can clearly see where the wild boars have been, find the best hunting spots and places to place hunting towers.
The drones are equipped with thermal cameras and can zoom in significantly, and Vils said they can be used to both locate and identify animals from the air.
There have been no cases of African swine fever in domestic pig herds in Estonia this year, but more than 100 wild boars infected with the disease have been found in the wild. Gerlin Järvela, head of the animal health department at the Estonian Agriculture and Food Board, said authorities have stepped up biosecurity measures while expanding cooperation with hunters. Pig farmers can even request drone inspections near their farms. Järvela said wild boars need to be kept away from domestic pig pens, as the risk is extremely high if wild animals are around them.
Source: https://bnn-news.com/estonians-use-drones-to-protect-pig-farms-from-african-swine-fever-281965
5. Michigan bill legalizing backyard deer feeding passes, but bans could remain
Alpena News
July 20, 2026
A bill that would allow Michiganders to feed deer in their backyards is sitting on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk, but, even if she signs it, the state may still prohibit some people from feeding.
Deer feeding is currently banned in the Lower Peninsula to prevent the spread of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease. House Bill 4350, which passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, would allow the practice but says any feeding must align with US Department of Agriculture standards and any agreements between the state and the federal government to control the spread of infectious diseases.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources currently has memorandums of understanding with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the USDA related to surveilling bovine tuberculosis, a respiratory disease found in animals such as deer and cattle that can spread to humans.
Even if Whitmer signs the law, "some areas of the state will be able to feed and others will not," said DNR spokesperson Ed Golder.
6. Nevada Department of Wildlife captures elk to collect health data, agency says
Story by Brenna O'Boyle, KVVU Las Vegas
MSN.com
July 20, 2026
RENO, Nev. - Because every sample tells a story, the Nevada Department of Wildlife recently captured elk throughout Nevada.
As part of an ongoing investigation into seasonal elk mortality syndrome, the Department of Wildlife biologists subdued elk in Elko, Nye, Lander, Lincoln, and White Pine counties to collect health data, according to an agency Facebook post.
During the capture, biologists conducted liver biopsies and ultrasounds.
The information they gathered helps researchers understand the challenges facing Nevada's elk herds and informs future wildlife management decisions.
This research is an important part of conserving wildlife for future generations, the agency said.