1. Import Alert: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Restrictions for Animal Commodities Originating from or Transiting Cyprus
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
Issuance Date: February 24, 2026
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Effective Date: January 23, 2026
Effective January 23, 2026, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of certain animal commodities originating from or transiting the region of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control (hereafter referred to as "Cyprus") based on the confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in domestic cattle and sheep.
The regions on the island of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control are not recognized by APHIS as free from FMD. With this import alert, APHIS is now restricting imports from all parts of the island of Cyprus due to FMD.
Restrictions
Live ruminants, camelids, swine, hedgehogs, tenrecs, dogs, horses:
APHIS prohibits the importation of live ruminants, camelids, swine, hedgehogs, tenrecs, and their germplasm originating from or transiting through Cyprus.
APHIS will permit the importation of dogs from Cyprus if their fur and bedding is free of excessive dirt, hay, or straw. The dog should be bathed as soon as it reaches its destination and kept separate from all livestock for five days after entering the United States.???
Horses from Cyprus, including horses that have contact with horses from Cyprus at any time within the five days immediately prior to export (including transport and in holding facilities), must complete the established FMD protocol. This includes no direct or indirect contact with domestic or wild ruminants or swine for at least five (5) days before entering the USDA quarantine facility; pre-export decontamination of horses, their hooves, and accompanying equipment; and additional decontamination in an APHIS-approved import quarantine facility upon arrival. Horses transiting Cyprus must complete the FMD protocol upon arrival. Please note that horses that have resided in an FMD-free country for a minimum of five (5) days after residing in Cyprus do not need to complete the FMD protocol.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/40b56a9
2. Pennsylvania leads nation in H5N1 bird flu cases [edited]
By Rachel Wagoner
Farm and Dairy
February 23, 2026
SALEM, Ohio - Pennsylvania is in the midst of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak that's impacted more than 7 million birds in the south-central part of the state.
More than 20 flocks, mostly in Lancaster County, have been hit by the deadly virus in the last 30 days. Pennsylvania currently has the most H5N1 bird flu cases in the country.
To contain the spread and help affected farms, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced he was deploying "additional resources" to support the state's response, which included six extra state employees and additional testing capacity. Since the beginning of the year, the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System has performed 8,000 tests, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
This outbreak is not only impacting poultry and egg producers. There are 214 dairy farms in the 3-kilometer "surveillance zone" around affected poultry farms that are required to undergo bulk tank milking testing, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Some of these dairy operations are co-located with poultry farms in Pennsylvania's agricultural heartland.
Dairy farms with a USDA-issued federal premises identification number will be contacted if they are required to test. Farmers can also use the state's HPAI control address checker* to check the state of the outbreak as it relates to their property.
[*See: https://padeptag.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a9066a3d68a443a08043766cb84bf4ae ]
Full text: https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/pennsylvania-leads-nation-in-h5n1-bird-flu-cases/905186.html
3. USMEF: New Taiwan trade deal could help expand opportunities for U.S. livestock producers
By Erin Anderson
BrownfieldAgNews.com
February 20, 2026
The head of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the new U.S. and Taiwan reciprocal trade agreement could expand market access for beef and pork.
Dan Halstrom says there will be a three year implementation period to eliminate tariffs completely for certain products.
"There's been a lot of delayed customs clearance and extra inspection procedures put on the U.S. versus other imported products," he says. "Getting rid of some of that busy work and those delays will help streamline these processes."
He tells Brownfield there are still non-tariff trade barriers for U.S. pork in Taiwan.
4. Lawmakers introduce bill to protect U.S. livestock from the New World screwworm
'SAFE CATTLE ACT' would strengthen federal response to NWS threats.
KCBD.com
February 21, 2026
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - New efforts are underway to eradicate the New World screwworm before it crosses U.S. borders.
The "Safeguarding America's Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act" was introduced to the house this week.
It's also being called the 'SAFE CATTLE ACT.'
Introduced by Congressman Ronny Jackson's, this bill, if passed, prompts the USDA and the Department of the Interior to coordinate surveillance operations, to ensure early detection, and to promptly implement eradication protocols.
Full text: https://www.kcbd.com/2026/02/21/lawmakers-introduce-bill-protect-us-livestock-new-world-screwworm/
5. A horse's neigh may be unique in the animal kingdom. Now scientists know how they do it
A horse's signature whinny comes from a combination of whistling and singing
By Adithi Ramakrishnan,?AP
Washington Post
February 23, 2026
NEW YORK - Horses whinny to find new friends, greet old ones and celebrate happy moments like feeding time.
How exactly horses produce that distinctive sound - also called a neigh - has long eluded scientists.
The whinny is an unusual combination of both high and low pitched sounds, like a cross between a grunt and a squeal - that come out at the same time.
The low-pitched part wasn't much of a mystery. It comes from air passing over bands of tissue in the voice box that make noise when they vibrate. It's a technique similar to how humans speak and sing .
6. S. Korea reports 20th case of African swine fever
By Park Sang-soo
Yonhap
February 23, 2026
SEOUL -- South Korea confirmed a new African swine fever (ASF) case at a pig farm in the southern county of Euiryeong on Monday, in what marked the 20th case of such an infection in South Korea this season.
As part of efforts to prevent additional infections, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to conduct an epidemiological investigation and restrict access to the site in the county in South Gyeongsang Province. All pigs at the affected farm will be culled.
The country confirmed its first ASF case of the year earlier this month in the eastern city of Gangneung after a two-month hiatus.
Full text: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260223011500320?section=national/national