Crisis Management Are You Prepared?

Crisis Management Are You Prepared?

You know an ag issue has reached a certain level of crisis when the main stream media begin to report on it. Such is the case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus or PEDV in the pork industry. PEDV infects only pigs — causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in pigs of all ages but can be fatal in pre-weaned pigs.

The U.S. pork industry has taken a proactive role in crisis management during this epidemic. Regardless of what you grow — everyone needs to take some to consider what you and your operation would do in a crisis. Pork Checkoff assistant vice president of communications Cindy Cunningham - shares

Cunningham: "It is really identifying those situations that could disrupt normal business on your farm, so anything from a blizzard or an ice storm to someone attacking your farm or accusing your farm of certain production practices that could disrupt that normal flow. How you would deal with it. How you would assure that things are being done right on your farm. And then finally how you would make sure that your farm business is still in business on the other side of the situation."

Preparation is critical in any crisis management plan and often just discussing potential challenges or possible crisis and how your business would overcome them can help. Answering the following questions can put your business closer to being prepared.

What are your operations areas of vulnerability? What information does your team need to make timely and accurate decisions?

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