SHIC Talk

On this episode of SHIC Talk, host Barbara Campbell Determan is joined by Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Scientific Program Manager Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley along with SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder and Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton. They talk about the ongoing SHIC/FFAR collaboration directing H5N1 research with 10 round 1 projects awarded in summer 2025 as well as a second request for proposals issued and due March 24, 2026.

SHIC Talk Addresses Pig Caretaker Motivation for Biosecurity On the latest episode of SHIC Talk, host Barb Determan welcomes SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder and guests Dr. Michael Chetta and Josh Holtkamp of Talent Metrics Consulting. Dr. Chetta and Josh discuss results of their research project addressing pig caretaker motivation for performing biosecurity tasks. Their results reveal simple, low cost ways for owners and managers to increase biosecurity task compliance with rewards and motivation.

Join SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton and host Barb Determan as they review how to access and use SHIC information including disease monitoring reports, research results, and more.

A collaborative team of investigators from North Carolina State University, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Iowa State University, and University of California Santa Cruz investigated if piglets infected with PoAstV4 exhibited reproducible lesions in the respiratory tract. Funded by the Swine Health Information Center, the study showed infected piglets shed the virus in nasal secretions, exhibited tracheitis and bronchitis with virus detected in tissues, and developed a productive immune response to infection. Principal investigator Dr. Michael Rahe, North Carolina State University, discusses results, which are the first to confirm that PoAstV4 can be a primary cause of epitheliotropic viral infection in the respiratory tract of piglets, with SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder and host Barb Determan.

In this episode of SHIC Talk, Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder, Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton, outgoing founding board member Mark Schwartz, and host Barbara Campbell Determan talk about the organization's 10th anniversary. They share SHIC's origin story, evolution, and unwavering commitment to its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments.

Swine Health Information Center Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton discusses a Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program project, Industry-Wide Assessment of Bioexclusion Practices Across US Swine Farms, with principal investigator, Dr. Gustavo Silva, Iowa State University in this episode of SHIC Talk. The study, funded in partnership by SHIC, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, defined biosecurity practices used across wean-to-harvest sites through an industry-wide questionnaire and developed a rapid-risk assessment tool for producers. The study assessed current bioexclusion practices among a diverse group of producers across swine-producing states in the US. Further, the study developed methods that veterinarians, production managers, and producers could implement to improve on-farm biosecurity. Findings showed that biosecurity on wean-to-harvest sites is inconsistent across the industry and that tools for increasing biosecurity could include relatively simple practices such as bench entry.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder and Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Scientific Program Director Dr. Jasmine Bruno discuss the tremendous response to the organizations' joint call for research proposals on H5N1 in swine.

SHIC Talk host, Barb Determan, welcomes SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton along with Dr. Erin Kettelkamp, Swine Vet Center, and Dr. Daniel Moraes, Iowa State University, to discuss their SHIC-funded Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program projects on biosecurity related to fan curtains and manure pumping.

The latest episode of SHIC Talk addresses influenza A, particularly the H5N1 strain, and the swine industry's prevention and preparedness efforts. Host Barb Determan is joined by SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder, AASV Public Health and Communications Director Dr. Abbey Canon, NPB Director of Swine Health Dr. Marisa Rotolo, and NPPC Director of Swine Health Dr. Anna Forseth for a lively and informative discussion.

Dr. Liz Wagstrom, Wagstrom Consulting, visits with SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton and SHIC Talk host Barb Determan about the recently completed Japanese encephalitis virus economic assessment she and her team developed, diving into the potential ramifications if JEV were to be found in the US swine herd.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder talks with host Barb Determan about the Center's emerging disease focus and plans for 2024.

Results of African swine fever research projects conducted Vietnam are discussed by SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg.

A new standardized outbreak investigation instrument is now available on the SHIC website. SHIC Executive Director Dr Paul Sundberg and Associate Director Dr Megan Niederwerder talk with Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dr Derald Holtkamp about creation of the new instrument and plans for an online version to be available in late spring 2023.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg and Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder discuss planning for 2023 with SHIC Talk host Barb Determan.

Learn about SHIC's new Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program on this episode of SHIC Talk. Host Barb Determan talks with SHIC Executive Director Dr Paul Sundberg and Associate Director Dr Megan Niederwerder about how the need was discovered, why the Center is pursuing it with collaborators, and what comes next.

SHIC Talk host Barb Determan talks with industry leaders about ASF and what has been done in terms of preparedness and response along with where gaps exists. Guests are Drs Megan Niederwerder, SHIC, Harry Snelson, AASV, Liz Wagstrom, NPPC, and Patrick Webb, Pork Board.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg and Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder talk with host Barbara Campbell Determan about feed research projects designed to prevent introduction of a foreign animal disease into the US swine herd.

In this episode of SHIC Talk, Drs. Natalia Cernicchairo, Lee Cohnstaedt, and Paul Sundberg join host Barb Determan to talk about Japanese Encephalitis Virus and the recent outbreak in Australia as well as risk to the US swine industry.

Dr Clayton Johnson, Carthage Veterinary Service, talks about biosecurity with Barb Determan. Dr Johnson comments on best practices and diligence in biosecurity practices on pig farms.

Drs. Bailey Arruda and Ganwu Li discuss recent morbillivirus diagnosis in pigs from a herd in Mexico with SHIC Talk host Barbara Campbell Determan.