Harvest Public Media

Harvest Public Media is a reporting collaboration focused on issues of food, fuel and ﬁeld. Based at KCUR in Kansas City, Harvest covers these agriculture-related topics through an expanding network of reporters and partner stations throughout the Midwest.Most Harvest Public Media stories begin with radio- regular reports are aired on member stations in the Midwest. But Harvest also explores issues through online analyses, television documentaries and features, podcasts, photography, video, blogs and social networking. They are committed to the highest journalistic standards. Click here to read their ethics standards.Harvest Public Media was launched in 2010 with the support of a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Today, the collaboration is supported by CPB, the partner stations, and contributions from underwriters and individuals.Tri States Public Radio is an associate partner of Harvest Public Media. You can play an important role in helping Harvest Public Media and Tri States Public Radio improve our coverage of food, field and fuel issues by joining the Harvest Network.

New Virus Infects Hogs in the Tri States

Tri States Public Radio | By Amy Mayer

Published July 10, 2013 at 11:01 AM CDT

Hog farmers across the Midwest are battling a new virus this summer.

The virus is often fatal in very young piglets and researchers are still trying to explain the outbreak.

Since mid-May when Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) was first identified in this country, it has spread quickly, turning up in at least 15 states. So far, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado have all had hogs test positive for the virus.

You can learn more about PEDV and the outbreak on the Harvest Public Media website.

Lisa Becton, a veterinarian with the National Pork Board, said the disease only affects swine, and pointed out sick pigs aren’t brought to processing plants.

She said that while PEDV does not transmit to humans, it spreads when pigs have contact with infected manure.

Becton says washing down trailers and other equipment and letting them dry before exposing them to a new group of pigs may help limit the spread of the disease.