Jim Eadie

Over several decades, the U.S. swine industry has made progress in disease control through the transition from traditional farrow-to-finish farms to multi-site production. Along with segregated early weaning, many bacterial pathogens were eliminated from large parts of the industry. Air filtration, the application of feed mitigants, intensified front-door biosecurity, and a critical focus on transportation biosecurity have been key to maintaining the ever-improving health of the U.S. sow herd.

The Pirbright Institute has launched a new specialist training program focused on one of the less visible but critical components of global livestock disease preparedness: the engineering systems that keep dangerous pathogens safely contained. The new program, Understanding the Role of Engineering in Biological Containment, is designed for engineers, technical professionals, facility managers and biosafety specialists working in or entering high-containment laboratory environments.

Hormel Foods Corporation has named former Tyson Foods executive Ash Bhumbla as executive vice president and chief financial officer, bringing another experienced protein-industry leader into Hormel’s senior management team. Bhumbla will assume the role September 8, 2026, succeeding Paul Kuehneman, who has served as interim CFO since October 2025. Kuehneman will assist with the transition and remain a senior leader within Hormel Foods’ finance organization.