“Control the controllable”: the message farmers took from ASF workshop #8
The eighth African Swine Fever (ASF) contingency planning workshop, delivered in partnership with AHDB, took place in Driffield, East Yorkshire. It marked the halfway point in the current programme. The room brought together pig producers and vets to work through how an ASF case could play out in practice and what can be done on farm before that scenario arrives.
Although ASF preparedness is often perceived as “doom and gloom”, the tone in the room remained constructive and pragmatic. Participants engaged openly with the exercise and left with clearer views of where real-world weaknesses sit.
Seeing risks that are already there
Many of the producers present were from highly managed, high biosecurity operations, yet the discussion revealed risks that hadn’t previously been considered.
“Most weren’t shocked by the big risks. They were shocked by the little ones they’d been living with,” said Amy Davies.
Visitor definition and logging came up repeatedly as a barrier in real outbreaks across the poultry sector. The workshop pressed for a simpler shared rule: a “visitor” is anyone who crosses the biosecure perimeter, not just non-farm staff.
A QR code-based system replaces paper logs with a faster reliable way to track staff, visitors, and contractors. By improving traceability and real-time oversight.
Control the controllable
One message repeatedly resonated. Focus on the risks actually within reach.
“Farmers can’t control what’s happening in Europe. They can control who crosses a gate line and where a car is parked,” explained Dr Paul Talling. “Every small control is another 0.1 dropped off your risk.”
A practical mapping exercise demonstrated how a simple change to a site layout can remove a risk that had sat unnoticed for years. It showed that a fresh external view can unlock quick wins without major cost.
Demand for more
Interest in further attendance was expressed from within the sector. Several participants asked how additional staff and colleagues could access future workshops. Feedback collected on the day reflected high engagement and a clearer sense of what to do next rather than a sense of helplessness.
Coming soon: Workshop in a Box
AHDB intends to release a “Workshop in a Box” in January. It will include:
- a standardised slide deck
- a contingency planning pack
- guided breakout instructions and a farm mapping method
- a pack of frequently asked questions gathered across the series
The Box will enable local delivery of the same content and approach.
