Economic Fallout
First and foremost, ASF would deliver a severe blow to our agricultural sector. Pork is a cornerstone of American agriculture, with the industry contributing billions annually to our economy and employing thousands of hardworking individuals across the country. An ASF outbreak would lead to mass culling of infected pigs, disrupting supply chains and causing significant financial losses to farmers, processors, and distributers alike. In fact, recent estimates show a $15 billion loss to the economy in just two years and $75 billion over 10 years should ASF enter the U.S.
Trade restrictions would be imposed, limiting our ability to export pork products to other countries and damaging our standing in global markets. This would further impact the bottom line of farmers and swine producers and severely impact the U.S. economy. The ripple effects would extend to feed suppliers, transportation networks and beyond, threatening the livelihoods of many communities that rely on the pork industry.
Rising Prices and Food Supply
The economic repercussions wouldn’t stop at just the swine industry. With pork production plummeting, consumers would face soaring prices at grocery stores and restaurants. Pork is a staple in American diets, appearing in everything from breakfast sausages to holiday hams. Higher prices would almost certainly strain household budgets, impacting Americans across all income levels. Moreover, as pork would become scarcer and more expensive, consumers might turn to alternative protein sources, further disrupting food markets and potentially leading to increased prices as demand of those sources increased.
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