By Diane DeWitte, UMN Extension Swine Educator Originally printed in The LAND - as the July 7, 2023 Swine & U Column US-SHIP is another acronym pig farmers and allied industry folks have encountered recently, generating questions about what it is, whether it is required, and where is it coming from. US-SHIP is the United States- Swine Health Improvement Plan, and it is open for all producers who raise pigs. In Minnesota US-SHIP is managed by the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) and also overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services. Additionally, swine industry leaders are involved in the development and management of a US-SHIP National Playbook of technical standards centering on prevention and demonstration of freedom of disease outside of control areas in support of animal health, commerce, and trade. Swine leadership across the country is involved in the UScreation of the national playbook, and Minnesota has several representatives at the