The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will lift the order canceling all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, livestock auction markets, swap meets, exotic sales and other gatherings of birds due to avian influenza on January 1, 2016. “This is very good news and another sign that we continue to recover from this devastating … Read More
USDA Lists 2015 Achievements
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has released a list of USDA’s top achievements in 2015 in the areas of trade, food safety, conservation, research, rural development, and more. “Even with challenges in 2015, including an unprecedented animal disease outbreak and lower commodity prices, America’s rural communities have proven once again that we are a nation of makers, creators and innovators, and … Read More
Funding for Poultry Research Lab in Omnibus Bill
The National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers and the University of Georgia applaud the work of Congress to include $114 million to fully fund renovations and critical upgrades to the Southeast Poultry Disease Research Laboratory (SEPRL) in Athens, Georgia. The groups appreciate House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee leadership and staff for including the funding within the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations … Read More
Final Avian Flu Quarantines Lifted in Minnesota
The last of the quarantines placed on 108 Minnesota farms infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this year have officially been lifted by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. All sites have completed the cleaning and disinfection process for their facilities, and environmental samples taken in and around the infected barns have all received negative influenza test results. Only … Read More
Iowa Ag Requests $500,000 Avian Flu Response Efforts
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has requested $500,000 for avian influenza response efforts as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s fiscal 2017 budget request. Northey requested a $500,000 appropriation to aid in preparing for and potentially responding to a foreign animal disease outbreak, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The funds would be used … Read More
Avian Influenza Discussion Planned for IPPE
This year, attendees of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), to be held in Atlanta from January 26 – 28, 2016, will have the opportunity to attend “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – Lessons Learned,” a program on avian influenza sponsored by the United Egg Producers (UEP) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The program will act as a … Read More
Avian Flu Update
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and USDA announced that all of the 72 commercial poultry farms that had a confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have had the quarantines on their facilities lifted and they are eligible to restock birds. All sites have completed the cleaning and disinfection process and had negative environmental tests. They also had to … Read More
Moline Farm Restocks Turkeys After Avian Outbreak
The Moline farm, located near Manson, Iowa was the first turkey farm to restock after the worst animal disease outbreak in U.S. history regardless of species. To learn more about how Moline and his family handled the avian flu outbreak, I spoke with Brad Moline who is a fourth generation producer whose family has been producers turkeys for 91 years. … Read More
USDA Releases Avian Flu Preparedness & Response Plan
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a report on planning and preparations for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in advance of a potential recurrence of the disease when birds migrate south this fall. While response operations continue in the Midwest, APHIS and its partners have used the time since the last positive detection to plan for … Read More
National Turkey Federation Responds to Avian Flu
The National Turkey Federation has updated its resources for members responding to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Their comprehensive response manual now contains advise and a checklist for members needing to respond to the infection. “These tools will help NTF members to deal with an HPAI outbreak as well as reassure our key stakeholders that the poultry industry is working … Read More