Stephanie Mercier identifies five diseases with the potential to disrupt U.S. livestock production, trade and response infrastructure at scale from a new report from The Farm Journal Foundation, The Mean Sixteen: Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture. Three of them already challenge U.S. production:
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
- African swine fever (ASF)
- New World screwworm (NWS)
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)
Source: Drovers, December 11, 2025. Link. The report identifies recurring gaps in U.S. animal health preparedness that extend beyond individual pathogens and suggests some key policy and infrastructure needs to help mitigate these threat risks.
Prevention, detection and long-term control of these diseases are key to avoiding a $300-billion impact.”
INSIGHTS: This is a must-read article. Historically, animal health pros could view disruptive diseases at arm’s length if they weren’t happening in their areas. HPAI and NWS are real risks across species today, know no boundaries and have demonstrated proclivities for species crossover.