PVD recommendations for grain growers during grain harvest

The Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) calls on all grain growers, especially in the area of emergency declared due to African swine fever (ASF), to pay special attention to the area from which the grain is obtained, as well as to the further spread of the grain, during grain harvesting and threshing.

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Assessing the epidemiological situation of ASF in Latvia and a neighboring country, as well as information from the European Food Safety Authority (European Food Safety Authority – According to EFSA), the resulting grains may be one of the high-risk products for the further spread of ASF. The ASF virus is very resistant and, if it remains in the grains without heat treatment, can spread further. The virus is killed by heat treatment of the grains at 60̊ C after 30 minutes of heat treatment.

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During the busy harvest season, especially if the grain field is located close to a forest or in an area where wild boars may have moved, it should be inspected before harvesting to make sure that no wild boars have "visited" it.

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Special attention should be paid when harvesting from fields where corn, peas, and potatoes are grown.

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When moving from field to field, especially in ASF protection and surveillance zones, we recommend rinsing or disinfecting the tires of the grain harvester.

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Don't neglect your backyard farm, especially if you keep pigs there! Pigs can only be fed cooked grains and boiled potatoes, and they should not be fed fresh grass or green mass cut from the field!

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If you notice a dead wild boar in a field during harvesting, report it by calling the PVD hotline – 20260400 or inform the nearest PVD territorial office.

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ASF and CSF are not dangerous to humans, but are very dangerous to domestic and wild pigs. Humans can transmit the pathogens through food, clothing, shoes, and household items.

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Source: PVD