State offers funding to fence pig farms against African swine fever

Pig farmers can apply for state investment support to fence their farms and prevent African swine fever from spreading into pigsties, Yle reports.

The support can cover 40 percent of the costs. Regional vitality centres will decide which projects receive funding.

Construction can begin once an application has been submitted through the Hyrrä service portal. However, the funding will only be confirmed after a decision by a regional vitality centre.

According to the Finnish Food Authority, applications for protective fencing can be submitted continuously. Funding decisions are made in application rounds, with the next deadline on August 15. Applications will next be processed after October 15, when the following application period ends.

African swine fever was detected in Finland for the first time in late July. The disease was found in wild boars in Virolahti, in the Kymenlaakso region. It does not infect humans.