The National Pork Producers Council wants mandatory funding in the next farm bill for a foot and mouth disease vaccine bank. Past NPPC President and Iowa Veterinarian Dr. Howard Hill says the funding they’re asking for allow a quick response should an outbreak occur.

The Plum Island USDA lab has the seed virus available. However, Hill says if there were an FMD outbreak, the vaccine would need to be made by companies in Europe that the U.S. contracts with who would then send the vaccine back.

Hill says with 27 strains of foot and mouth disease the industry is also working on acquiring vaccines from a rotating stock source from other countries.

Hill says any outbreak of foot and mouth disease would have a huge impact as it would affect not only the livestock industry but the grain industry, transportation and packing plants.