Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow is asking Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to approve disaster assistance for small pork producers affected by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus that is spreading across the country.  PED virus has killed more than 4 million pigs since April of 2013.  South Dakota Pork President Lester Moeller appreciates the request and is hoping Secretary Vilsack will follow through.

Moeller says PED is a difficult disease to fight and its effects so far have been severe.

Moeller says it’s not just pork producers being hurt by the virus either.

Stabenow told Vilsack in her letter that if PED persists, pork herds will continue to diminish and producers risk going out of business.