Poultry - General

Why We're Seeing More Bird Flu Infections Earlier

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:21:27 GMT

According to the USDA-APHIS dashboard , there have been 36 commercial flocks of poultry infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the past 30 days. Including backyard flocks, it totals more than 1.8 million birds.

Rebecca Eifert Joniskan, president of the Indiana State Poultry Association, says the disease has arrived earlier than “usual” as wild birds spread the virus with their seasonal migration patterns.

“We typically don’t see avian influenza until January or February,” she says. “This year we started October 9.”

Matt Makens of Makens Weather says weather patterns play a role in bird movement, and therefore virus transmission.

“In winters like this. our temperatures will be very volatile. There’ll be swings of very, very warm days. And then very, very cold days. And I think there is a connection to bird flu spread in those warmer periods,” he says.

Indiana is a poultry powerhouse for commercial production, ranking No. 1 in duck (60% of the U.S. duck produced), No. 3 in eggs, No. 4 in turkey, and a large-scale epicenter for broiler production as well.

While HPAI has been a renewed biosecurity concern for poultry since Feb. 2022, the infection has set into a seasonal pattern—creating some predictability. However, the early onset of birds being infected this fall has Joniskan and industry members concerned a long and difficult season is ahead.

“Typically, it fades over the summer. The virus burns itself out with birds in the Arctic,” she says. “That hasn’t been happening. The virus isn’t following the rules. It’s back, and it’s early.”

The first infections in Indiana were in northern countries and affected ducks and free-range egg layers. Currently, Indiana has the most reports of HPAI infection in commercial and backyard flocks for the past 30 days.

States reporting recent infections in commercial flocks are: California, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The past decade has brought an increased focus on biosecurity and disease prevention.

“When we had avian influenza in 2015 and 2016, there were a lot of learnings on how to reduce the risk of introduction of the virus on your farm,” she explains. “There were changes put in place, including annual biosecurity reviews.”

She says poultry producers in Indiana have taken the virus risk seriously and are actively preventing its introduction while also being ready to respond to it.

“Our companies across the state have taken the learning from ‘15/’16 and what we’ve learned since 2022, and they’ve doubled down to try to reduce any opportunity for introduction wherever they can. It’s difficult, but it’s less expensive and trying than the dealing with an infection,” she says.

Once a flock is infected, the birds don’t recover from the virus, and depopulation is the end result.

More Funding Going to Tackle HPAI H5N1, Egg Imports are Now Underway to Stabilize Supply

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:49:05 GMT

On Thursday morning, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins gave an update on progress the Trump administration is making on the five-prong strategy it unveiled Feb. 26 to combat avian influenza virus type A (H5N1).

Speaking to industry stakeholders, media and offices of elected officials, Rollins focused on the administration’s work to lower egg prices and improve supply, while also emphasizing the importance of biosecurity in protecting U.S. poultry flocks from the virus.

Regarding egg prices, she said wholesale prices are down nearly 50% from their peak in late February from $8.53 then to $4.08 currently.

However, Rollins said she realizes that wholesale prices don’t automatically show up as reductions in retail prices.

“I know for some of us who are shopping that we’ve seen egg prices drop immediately, which has been true for me. But then we’ll hear from people in other parts of the country where they have yet to see that reduction on their grocery store shelf.”

With Easter just a few weeks away, she acknowledged that egg demand is always “unusually high during the season,” and that egg prices could potentially move back up.

To help address the egg shortage, Rollins noted that shell egg exports have declined by 8%, “keeping more eggs in the U.S. and lowering prices.”

In addition, the Trump administration is allowing egg imports as a temporary measure to stabilize prices and supply. Rollins’ chief of staff Kailee Buller said this measure would likely be discontinued once those measures were achieved.

USDA Focuses On Biosecurity For Poultry Operations
Rollins said biosecurity in poultry flocks will continue to be a major part of the Trump administration’s plan to address H5N1, moving forward.

“Our pilot programs have proven that biosecurity is the most important thing our farmers can do to protect our flocks against the disease, at least right now,” she said.

The USDA is working closely, she said, with its federal partners including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “combat avian flu as a unified federal family.”

On Wednesday, USDA announced it is expanding the availability of its biosecurity assessments to commercial poultry producers.

“These assessments, which were previously available on a limited basis have been extremely successful in improving biosecurity on individual premises and preventing the introduction or spread of avian influenza,” Rollins said.

While USDA is exploring the viability of vaccinating poultry for H5N1, she said the use of any vaccine for poultry or any animal species has not been authorized at this time.

“I know there has been some misreporting on that,” Rollins said. “The day we rolled out the plan, I actually talked about the fact that we’re not ready to vaccinate. We need to do some more research, and so that has not changed, but I do look forward to this next process of learning more about getting more research done and perhaps seeing what makes sense for the country moving forward, once that is concluded.”

Dairy Is Not Part Of USDA’s Primary H5N1 Focus
No information was offered during the conference call to address the issue of H5N1 in dairy cattle or other livestock or animal species.

Mike Watson, administrator of USDA-APHIS, said right now USDA is focused on the poultry vaccine.

“We’re looking for a vaccine that has sterilizing immunity but also an opportunity for us to have different introduction methods for the vaccine right now, as injections are the only possibility,” he said. “We need new tools, whether it’s water based, aerosol based, those kind of things. We’re looking for manufacturers to really look at what those options might be, to really provide us with a vaccine that matches the current strain but also is highly effective. And again, this is really focused on poultry.”

Buller said there is already quite a bit of research at USDA on the topic in dairy.

“Please rest assured, we are thinking of you all (in dairy). We know you all are impacted. But for this particular strategy, we have been hyper-focused on the poultry side. USDA has separate work streams as we’re working through this on the cattle and dairy side.”

One of the media asked whether Sec. Rollins had talked further with HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding his idea of letting H5N1 burn through poultry flocks to identify birds that might have immunity or show resistance to the virus.

Buller answered the question, as Rollins had stepped away from the call. “I have not been engaged specifically with those conversations with the Secretary and Secretary Kennedy,” she said. “They are talking very regularly and you are aligned on the approach, but in terms of that specific topic, there’s no further light I can shed on that at this time.”

Assessments Available To Poultry Operations
USDA is offering two different, free, voluntary biosecurity assessments for poultry operations not currently affected by HPAI.

The first is a wildlife biosecurity assessment. The second is a general biosecurity assessment. Poultry producers can request one or both of these free assessments.

Per the wildlife biosecurity assessment, Rollins said USDA will conduct on-farm assessments at poultry facilities and provide recommendations to producers for facility repairs and wildlife management techniques. The assessments include a series of regular engagements, including wildlife hazard identification surveys, wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management on the premises.

“USDA has assessed approximately 130 facilities to date (in 2025), and plans on doing significantly more moving forward and expanding that program,” she said.

For the general biosecurity assessment, USDA will work with poultry producers to review biosecurity plans and physical measures.

“This is a proactive resource for premises that are outside of avian flu control areas to identify and mitigate potential biosecurity gaps,” she said.

Funding Is Ramped Up To Address HPAI In Poultry
The USDA announced on Thursday that up to $100 million in funding will be available to support projects on avian influenza, prevention, therapeutics, vaccines and research.

“USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects, which will identify and foster innovative solutions to fight avian flu and directly support American producers,” Rollins said during the conference call.

Funding is available through a competitive process to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics and therapeutics, as well as states, universities, livestock producer organizations and other eligible entities, she noted.

USDA will prioritize one or more of the following. First, it will support the development of novel therapeutics to address HPAI in poultry. Second, it will support research to further understand the risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies.

“Let me just say, as a quick aside, I’ve had multiples and multiples and multiples of conversations with some of our chicken farmers across the country —many of them have been highly successful at not having the bird flu infect their populations,” Rollins said. “Better understanding of risk pathways and realizing what best practices are is a big part of (this work).”

The third focus is on the development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from H5N1 while promoting biosecurity.

“That will all be part of the research funding opportunity that we announced about an hour and a half ago,” Rollins said.

USDA will test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions to prevent the virus and treat infected flocks.

“USDA, in consultation with HHS, has already had multiple conversations with Secretary Kennedy and leaders in the NIH and CDC, but will also be exploring prevention strategies to promote biosecurity in agriculture and in humans, to ensure limited impact on American farmers,” Rollins noted.

USDA is offering a webinar to assist interested applicants in learning more about the funding opportunity and how to submit a proposal on Tuesday, April 1 at 12 p.m. Eastern. No details on how to participate in the webinar have been communicated yet.

“As we try to do everything under this president and here at USDA, we will be as fast and efficient and effective as we can possibly be, working around the clock,” Rollins said.

Buller added that Sec. Rollins and her staff will continue to host update calls regularly.

“It’s very important to Sec. Rollins that we are showing progress on this five-prong plan and being honest and open with the public about what we’re up to and the progress and potential challenges that we have ahead,” Buller said. “We have an open door here, and we remain open to having conversations and hearing from stakeholders.”

As Trump Administration Shifts Strategy on Avian Flu, It's a Complicated Issue in Need of Long-Term Solutions

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:36:46 GMT

The Trump administration is rolling out a new strategy to combat avian flu, moving away from mass culling of infected flocks of egg-laying chickens. But as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Farm Journal in an exclusive interview, the key to solving the issue is to find a solution that doesn’t just address the avian flu outbreak in the short-term. The plan also needs to find a solution that works long-term, as well.

USDA’s food price outlook report released Tuesday shows the sticker shock shoppers are seeing for egg prices. The report egg prices for 2025 now more double their previous forecast, now up 41.1% midpoint versus 20.3% last month.

Also on Monday, Rollins met with poultry farmers and industry leaders in Texas to address the ongoing avian flu crisis. She toured a Cal-Maine Foods facility in Bogata before hosting a roundtable in Mount Pleasant, where discussions focused on outbreak response and mitigation strategies. Rollins criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the issue, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to supporting farmers and stabilizing egg prices. Following the roundtable, she spoke with local media about USDA’s efforts and the impact on Texas agriculture

That followed the Trump administration introducing a new plan last week, which was spearheaded by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Rollins. The plan prioritizes enhanced biosecurity measures and medication to control the spread of the virus in egg-laying flocks.

“Clearly, this is a massive issue for our poultry producers, especially our egg layers,” Rollins told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory, in an exclusive interview. “Ensuring that we have a plan, not just for the short-term to bring down egg prices, which the president is very focused on, but for the long-term. What are the best practices around the world? Why in America have we been hit so hard? Why did the last USDA, a couple of years ago, recognize it as a major issue but not many steps were taken?”

Thank you East Texas! I am so grateful to so many as the learning tour continues — yesterday a poultry facility and a roundtable with #local farmers and ranchers to solicit feedback on combatting bird flu and lowering the cost of eggs. @POTUS and our team at @USDA remain… pic.twitter.com/ATXTEz0tVk
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) February 25, 2025

Just hours after being confirmed, Rollins’ first official meeting at the White House was on avian flu. She told Flory it’s her top priority right now, and she’s gathered a team from within USDA and the White House to focus on the issue.

“I’ve been talking to governors. I’ve been talking to the companies that are facing this. I’ve been talking to grocery. I mean, we’ve been talking to everyone, trying to come up with a big toolkit to be able to really approach this and hopefully figure out a way to, again, solve it for the long-term,” Rollins said.

Flory followed up by asking Rollins if vaccines will be one of the tools used by USDA.

“Vaccines are being discussed right now. I think that there is a lot of opinion on that on both sides. And we’re working through all of that right now,” Rollins told Flory.

Part of the Trump administration’s new strategy on avian flu released so far includes:

Biosecurity and Medication: Improved containment protocols and medication aim to reduce reliance on widespread culling.
Smart Perimeter Approach: Targeted containment methods will enhance efficiency in preventing outbreaks.
Collaboration: Government scientists and global academic experts are contributing to the plan’s development.

How to Get More Eggs in the Short-Term
The National Chicken Council (NCC) is also petitioning the FDA to lift a regulation that prevents broiler industry eggs from entering the food supply, arguing the move could ease record-high egg prices caused by the bird flu outbreak.

The 2009 rule forces broiler producers to discard surplus hatching eggs instead of selling them to processors, despite government risk assessments affirming their safety. If granted, the request would allow nearly 400 million eggs annually to be used in processed foods like bread, pasta and mayonnaise, alleviating strain on table egg supplies.

NCC previously sought relief under the Biden administration in 2023 but was denied. Now, with egg prices soaring, the organization is urging swift action from the Trump administration.

USDA Reports Decline in Egg production, Signs of Recovery Ahead

USDA’s latest report highlights key trends in the poultry industry, including a 4% decline in U.S. egg production for January 2025. This drop is largely due to a 4% reduction in laying hens, driven by the ongoing avian influenza outbreak.

However, signs of recovery are emerging: egg-type chick hatching rose by 6%, and incubation numbers increased by 7%. Meanwhile, broiler production is growing, with a 3% rise in broiler chick hatching. USDA will release updated forecasts on March 11, offering a clearer picture of the industry’s trajectory.

More details:

The number of layers fell to about 363 million in January, down 3.8% from a year ago.
Egg production of 8.865 billion was down 4.2% and the lowest for the month since 2016 — when there was a previous major outbreak of bird flu.

Egg Production

(Bloomberg)

Denny’s became the latest breakfast chain to announce an egg surcharge. Earlier this month, Waffle House introduced a temporary 50-cent surcharge per egg.

Major retailers, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have had to act as well by imposing limits on how many eggs one customer can buy. According to USDA, the avian flu has killed more than 140 million egg-laying birds in the country since 2022. At least 18.9 million birds have been culled in the past 30 days alone.

Egg Prices and Market Conditions
Conventional table eggs jumped 36 cents a dozen nationally last week, on average.

Negotiated wholesale prices for graded loose eggs are firm to moving higher with a higher undertone. Demand for retail is moderate to good, while food service interest is lower. Offerings are very light, with little chance of improvement due to ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) impacts on productive flocks.

Price Trends

National trading: White large shell eggs increased $0.33 to $8.07 per dozen
New York market: Large cartoned shell eggs rose $0.24 to $8.47 per dozen
Midwest region: Large white shell eggs increased $0.28 to $8.09 per dozen
California benchmark: Large shell eggs rose $0.05 to $9.22 per dozen

Supply and Demand
Shell egg demand has increased over the past week, with marketers struggling to cover needs due to reduced supplies from HPAI outbreaks. Spot market bids routinely outpace offers, often by a factor of ten, with prices setting daily records. Shell egg shortages are now impacting most major markets.

Inventory and Production

Overall shell egg inventory declined 2%
Large class shell eggs inventory is down just over 1%
Cage-free egg stocks decreased 3.5%
Breaking stock inventory gained 2%
Total estimated table egg production unchanged from last week and last year

Breaking and Processing
Breaking schedules are generally reduced, running 3% below year-ago levels. The volume of eggs processed last week decreased just under 1%. Production of whole eggs was up nearly 3%, while egg components (whites and yolks) continue to decline.

Frozen Egg Storage
December monthly volume of frozen eggs in storage declined 7% from November, 38% below the December 2023 level. This is the lowest level of egg products stocks recorded in the last 10 years.

NCC’s Petition to Bring More Eggs Into the Market

As noted above, the National Chicken Council is also petitioning the FDA to lift a regulation preventing broiler industry eggs from entering the food supply.

· Consumer safety vs. potential economic benefits: The FDA determined that allowing the use of surplus broiler eggs would not maintain the same level of public health protection as the current egg safety rule. The agency prioritizes consumer safety over potential economic benefits.

· Refrigeration requirements: The 2009 rule requires all eggs entering the food supply to be kept at 45°F within 36 hours of being laid. Broiler eggs are typically stored at 65°F, which is incompatible with this requirement.

· Different risk profiles: While the NCC argues that pasteurized surplus broiler eggs present a different risk profile than raw table eggs, the FDA has not been convinced by this argument.

· Regulatory jurisdiction: The FDA has authority over shell eggs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, while USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates egg products. This division of responsibilities complicates the decision-making process.

· Previous rejections: The FDA has consistently denied similar petitions in the past, including one in June 2023. This suggests a long-standing policy position that is unlikely to change without significant new evidence or circumstances.

What Could Happen Moving Forward

USDA officials and analysts clearly understand the issue, but they are dealing with a topic that involves short- and long-term issues, FDA and White House officials. Also, throw in politics, with Democrats asking almost daily what the White House is doing about high egg prices.

A whole-of-government approach is evident on this issue via the Trump administration. That was not the approach on this topic during the Biden administration, even though various steps were taken by then USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. They just came too late or were not aggressive enough, sources conclude.

Industry contacts say the failure of former President Biden’s team to deal with the spread of HPAI means both a short- and long-term approach is now needed. There is only so much that can be done in the short run to lower egg prices. That topic should have been dealt with via more effective HPAI policy a few years ago, contacts advise. It was not.

The push is on for a multi-focus, all-inclusive approach including:

An increased focus on biosecurity, but with funding to help the industry accomplish that because of indemnity and other issues.
Finding different modes of administering medications, such as via water, feed and aerosols. But those methods are not yet available. Thus the need for expanded research funding on this topic.
Coming up with a trade strategy that could involve regionalization (trading with states outside impacted areas). But that has to be negotiated with trading partners, and that takes time. Also, industry officials are very hesitant about trade issues. A regionalization approach could be taken, but only after more vaccines are available. However, there are already regionalization agreements in place with some countries on bird flu. One question is what would any vaccination effort do to those regionalization agreements?
Increasing imports of eggs, but this could be limited and presents some quality issues and food safety issues (testing, etc.). But egg exporting countries are increasingly looking at the U.S. market due to prices and wanting to boost exports.
Any discussion of an embargo on U.S. egg exports should be moot. Reason: embargoes do not work. Example: The Carter grain embargo in 1980 against the then Soviet Union.

Vaccines:
USDA recently granted Zoetis a conditional USDA approval for an avian flu vaccine. Major poultry and dairy organizations back vaccine use to control the virus.

However, several problems exist regarding vaccines, including the trade angle previously discussed, and the fact that their effectiveness timeline wears off. Also, HPAI is multifaceted with different mutations causing vaccine-related issues.

As for FDA, if the agency is convinced somehow to temper its current safety rule, concerns still exist regarding increased threats of salmonella.

If the NCC petition would be approved in some way, increased testing for salmonella is just one requirement. Any cost-benefit analysis is difficult at best to do on this topic. Of note: It will be curious to see what HHS Secretary JFK Jr. says about this and other HPAI issues, especially the use of vaccines.

Risks:
If a change in the major depopulation strategy is implemented, the concern is that if it does not work, an explosive increase in HPAI cases could follow.

Upshot:
Limited avenues are available in the short run regarding bringing down egg prices, and containing HPAI. As previously mentioned, the reason for that in part is this topic was not taken as seriously as it should have been during the Biden administration because no such all-of-government approach was taken.

A likely game plan will or should be to lay the groundwork to deal with HPAI in the long run so it does not surface again years from now. But this will take time to unfold. Regarding egg prices, any effort to stop U.S. egg exports will likely be rejected. That means increase supply via imports and eventually more U.S. egg production, and/or reduced demand via higher prices.

Iowa Secretary of Ag Weighs In on The H5N1 Battle, Vaccine Potential And Trade Sensitivities

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:48:13 GMT

Eggs continue to be a hot topic in the news as supplies are down, prices are up – and expected to go even higher – and consumers are understandably concerned.

At the center of the issue, fanning the on-going problem for poultry and dairy producers as well, is the Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1).

AgriTalk Host Chip Flory broached the topic with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Tuesday.

At the heart of their conversation was a two-part question – how does the U.S. address the virus and, in the process, prevent any potential negative ramifications on trade?

Naig says the federal government is taking what he described as a three-legged stool approach to addressing the problem in both industries.

He described the three legs of the stool as being USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), individual state animal health officials and industry.

“We work very closely with APHIS on this, meaning that they’re the ones that are providing the indemnity payments to producers. They are providing the disposal and cleanup assistance, but they must work in close collaboration with the states and state animal health officials,” Naig says. “And then, of course, you’ve got to have the third leg, which is industry.”

Biosecurity Measures
Naig noted that while the virus hit the poultry industry hard in 2015, it struck even harder in 2024.

“It’s not just in the Midwest or West, it’s been really all across the country now, affecting the egg laying industry, broilers and turkey production,” Naig says.

A significant positive, Naig says, is that biosecurity measures in the poultry industry appear to be preventing farm-to-farm spread. “The industry continues to get high marks for that, which wasn’t the case in 2015, which was so devastating because we didn’t have those strategies in place.”

“I believe, and our experience has been, that our USDA partners in this regard have been very strong,” he adds.

As Naig addressed the three-legged stool approach the U.S. is taking to addressing the virus in dairy, he says the three partners have more work to do.

“Frankly, there’s been a lot of criticism to share around the three legs, if you will, on how states have reacted, or how strongly USDA should have reacted, and what the industry is doing to try to contain that virus. So, I would say on the dairy side of things, it’s a different story (than in poultry). There’s a lot more work that’s yet to be done to even understand how that virus is impacting those (dairy) herds.”

What Is The Role For Vaccines?
Flory asked Sec. Nagy whether he believes a vaccine could be part of the solution to the virus or whether that would set up too many trade barriers. Flory also asked whether the virus is stable enough for a long enough period of time for a vaccine to be developed that would work effectively.

Both are questions the U.S. is grappling with as it tries to get ahead of the virus in dairy and poultry.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported the U.S. will rebuild a stockpile of avian influenza vaccines for poultry that match the strain of the virus circulating in commercial flocks and wild birds, citing the Department of Agriculture.

Naig told Flory that he believes a vaccine could be developed, with regard to poultry specifically, and its use negotiated into trade agreements.

“Those are challenges, and yet those are things that can be worked on and can be done, but it’s not easily done. I would want to put a flag there,” Naig says.

“I’m supportive of developing … we should try to figure out whether this can be an effective tool. If you’re in the broiler business or if you’re in the turkey meat business or if you’re in the egg business or maybe you’re in the genetics business, those are very different in terms of how you view that vaccine.”

Naig explains part of the different viewpoints on vaccine use have to do with the difference between poultry business segments.

“We need to recognize that those sectors are different in how they’ll view and potentially use a vaccine,” Naig says.

“Don’t treat them all the same. It’ll make way more sense for some than others.”

Naig did not weigh in on vaccine development for the dairy industry specifically.

The full conversation between Naig and Flory on AgriTalk is available below.

Your next read: Think Egg Prices Are Already Too High? USDA Says Retail Egg Prices Could Jump Another 20% in 2025

New Zealand Reports First Case of HPAI

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:34:42 GMT

Biosecurity New Zealand has placed strict movement controls on a commercial rural Otago egg farm, the Ministry for Primary Industries reports, after testing confirmed a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens that has likely developed from interactions with local waterfowl and wild birds.

“Tests from the Mainland Poultry managed farm have identified a high pathogenic H7N6 subtype of avian influenza. While it is not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world that has caused concern, we are taking the find seriously,” Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson, said in the release.

Testing shows it is unrelated to a H7 strain that was identified in Australia earlier this year. Experts believe this case may have occurred as part of a spillover event, where foraging laying hens were exposed to a low pathogenic virus from wild waterfowl.

“Low pathogenic viruses are present in wild birds here, especially waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans, and the virus can mutate on interaction with chickens,” Anderson said. “It is important to note that the strain found on this farm is not a wildlife adapted strain like H5N1, so we believe it is unlikely to be transmitted to mammals.”

The report says there have been no reports of other ill or dead birds on other poultry farms. There are no human health or food safety concerns, so it is safe to consume thoroughly cooked egg and poultry products, the release said.

Quick action had been taken in co-operation with Mainland Poultry and a restricted place notice issued, Anderson explained in the release.

“Test results late last night confirmed the strain, but we already had restrictions in place and expert biosecurity staff on site, with more arriving today. Mainland Poultry took the right steps by reporting ill birds in one shed on the property and locking that building down as testing continued,” he said. “We will move quickly, with Mainland Poultry, to depopulate birds on the remote property, and we’ve placed a 10-kilometre buffer zone around it alongside the restrictions preventing movement of animals, equipment, and feed. We aim to stamp this out like we did with infectious bursal viral disease that affected chickens in 2019.”

John McKay, chief executive of Mainland Poultry, manages the free-range farm. He says the farm is committed to taking quick action.

“We have been preparing for an event like this for some time, knowing that low pathogenic avian influenza is already present in New Zealand wild birds,” McKay said in the release. “Fortunately, this is not the H5N1 type that has caused concern for wildlife in other parts of the world. International experience with avian influenza has shown us this particular strain (H7N6) can be eradicated quickly and successfully.”

Biosecurity New Zealand will work closely with industry partners to limit possible impacts to trade.

Your Next Read: Influenza Expert Gets Real About the H5N1 Risk to Your Swine Herd

Why Students Should Apply for the 2025 Summer Veterinary Internship Program Now

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:08:35 GMT

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ISU CVM) is seeking veterinary student applicants for summer 2025 swine, bovine and poultry internship positions.

Will Fombelle, DVM, is a veteran of several internships spread across his undergraduate studies in animal sciences and also into his veterinary school education. During the summer of 2012, he completed the Swine Veterinary Internship Program (SVIP).

“While in school, I took on the attitude of completing as many internships as I possibly could in order to not only narrow down my career choice but also my future employer. By participating in these programs, I was able to mold my interests into the fields of swine medicine and production which greatly accelerated my vision of where I chose to start my career in veterinary medicine at Carthage Veterinary Service,” he said in a previous PorkBusiness.com article .

Participants in the SVIP collaborate with a mentoring veterinarian or team of veterinarians at a production system or practice. Students are immersed in modern swine production and health daily and take the lead on designing and executing a field trial with guidance from mentors, ISU CVM said on its website . Students also take part in diagnostic test sampling and implement the principles and methods of swine diagnostic collection, testing and interpretation.

“Even if your university has classes well into the summer, you have a study abroad trip planned, a wedding or another reason you might not be able to commit to the entire 12 weeks, go ahead and apply,” ISU CVM encouraged. “Just note your availability in the section where it asks about conflicts. We can’t guarantee we can accommodate all schedules but if a student is selected we will try our hardest to be flexible and make it work.”

Applications are due Dec. 1, 2024 (late applications are accepted but higher priority will be given to those received by Dec. 1).

Apply here.

“These summer internships are the first exposure for students to the real world, and we should do our best to make each student’s experience a positive one,” Fombelle wrote.

Learn more here.

Your Next Read: Find and Develop Your Replacement in the Pork Industry

Why You Need to Pay Attention Now to EPA’s Proposed Rodenticide Mitigation Measures

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:18:52 GMT

Out of sight, out of mind. That theory works for a while until it doesn’t, especially when it comes to rodent control.

“Rodenticide use is like using insecticides. If you don’t see any cockroaches, you don’t worry about them. But once you see one, you throw the bomb at it,” says Larry Delozier, director of national poultry account sales for QC Supply.

Similarly, once you see a mouse or rat, it’s likely you have a big problem on your hands , explains Steve Von Haden, Midwest business manager for Motomco.

“Always assume you have rodents, and you should be putting bait out,” Von Haden says. “All agricultural buildings or structures will have rodents of some type. You just don’t want it to get to such high peaks it causes structural damage, diseases and contamination of food sources .”

Pending regulation could mean agriculture loses critically important tools to protect food security. EPA is proposing significant changes to rodenticides that would result in the canceling of products and uses, add more requirements to the labels, and reclassify some products to restricted use pesticides .

“Regardless of whether you are a livestock producer or citrus grower or manager of a golf course, this will have an impact on your ability to effectively manage a destructive farm pest,” says John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs at American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “It’s one more challenge in a regulatory environment where challenges continue to grow for the American producer.”

What is EPA Proposing?

On Nov. 29, 2022, the EPA released for public comment new proposed mitigation measures for 11 rodenticides, which if implemented, will have a major impact on all currently available rodenticide products, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) said on its website . The agency’s proposals are the most significant changes to rodenticides in 15 years that will result in the canceling of products and uses, add more requirements to the labels, and reclassify some products to restricted use pesticides, ARA noted.

EPA’s recommended changes are included in four Proposed Interim Decision documents (PIDs) that cover: 1) the seven anticoagulant rodenticides; 2) bromethalin and cholecalciferol; 3) strychnine; and 4) zinc phosphide.

“EPA’s proposal is quite wide-ranging, and it is going to impact any user of rodenticides and how rodenticides are applied,” Boatright explains. “The challenge is many of EPA’s proposed mitigation measures introduce additional challenges for on-farm application. I don’t know that they will have the intended effect that EPA thinks they’ll have.”

Boatright says this should be very concerning for everyone in the agricultural supply chain who apply rodenticides. Michael Formica, chief legal strategist for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), says it will also have a negative impact in urban areas where rodent infestation is a major problem.

“This is an example of one area where rural communities can build positive engagement and cooperate with urban communities. As much as rats and rodents are pests on the farm, they are even more so in an urban area,” Formica says. “In the back alleys in DC, you see rats that look like cats racing from one building to another, running around at night. People don’t want to live with them.”

And they shouldn’t have to, Delozier says. Rodent control companies have made effective, safe bait under EPA’s existing stringent restrictions. EPA’s proposed measures will add great cost and will likely be prohibitive for many.

What Does This Mean for Farmers?

If this proposal is enacted, rodenticide users will see many new restrictions.

“The average livestock farmer wouldn’t be able to use them, you would have to go through certification and training in your state,” Formica explains. “If you’ve got a row crop or grain operation, a lot of folks have that certification because they spray pesticides. But most livestock farmers don’t have all those different certifications.”

Certifications would be required annually, which takes a lot of time, paperwork and training.

“If you don’t have that certification, you would need to hire exterminators to come out. That’s expensive and creates its own biosecurity problem because you’re having people come out not just to apply the rat poison, but also pick up the dead rats,” Formica says.

Pick up dead rats? Yes, that’s part of the new measures, too.

“The proposal talks about mandatory carcass searches in the field. That seems to be quite a challenge to expect a farmer or a farm worker to stop what they’re doing and search for rodent carcasses in potentially hundreds or thousands of acres,” Boatright says.

Once the rodent carcasses are found, farmers would be required to not just log them, but also pick them up and dispose of them.

Another limitation of these measures includes the requirement of single-use base stations, which would create a lot of garbage, Formica adds. The bait stations being used today are refillable.

What Will Happen if Rodent Bait Goes Off the Shelves?

“The more regulation you put on farmers, the more resistance you will have and that’s not conducive to the economic engine that is farming and food in the U.S.,” says Mike Slegl, vice president of product sales for QC Supply.

Farmers aren’t misusing product with the intent of controlling other things, Slegl adds. Some believe EPA is rushing to do this because of pressure from environmentalists for Endangered Species Act concerns.

“There is a potential major negative impact of an additional EPA regulation on the true sustainability of livestock production and the livelihood of farms,” Slegl says. “If it’s one more forced hand that overnight becomes more expensive to something they’re already doing, there’s going to be major resistance and people will push towards non-compliance.”

Delozier fears EPA’s rodenticide mitigation measures will ultimately increase the cost of goods to the consumer.

“Whenever we add requirements, there is always a cost that goes into the food system and will eventually cost the consumer more, too,” Delozier says. “Farmers are already using rodenticides that have to be EPA-approved.”

Darrin Karcher, a poultry specialist and associate professor at Purdue University, says it could be a double-edged sword.

“With the larger integrated companies, if they have to pay someone else to do it, they will pay someone because it has to be taken care of. Where it may catch are those individuals doing it themselves who may not have financial depths to pursue having other people take care of application,” Karcher says. “The question becomes, can they find a way to do that?”

An Increased Biosecurity Risk

And what if they can’t? Rodents present a major biosecurity risk for farms. With devastating diseases like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the poultry industry and the threat of deadly foreign animal diseases like African swine fever (ASF) in the pork industry, leaders fear how this could impact the health of the nation’s livestock herds.

“The restricted-use pesticide designation concerns me,” says Matthew Galloway, Midwest sales manager for ag rodenticides with Liphatech Inc. “For the broiler and breeder side of the poultry industry, there are hundreds of thousands of barns all over the U.S. One contract grower often has four or five barns and there may be several thousand barns within each company. If farmers don’t get their license, they will have to hire an outside applicator. Then you run into the risk of biosecurity breaches. We can’t have applicators running through multiple farms over a week’s time, otherwise we’ll really see a massive problem.”

It’s also a major problem if rodents get out of control because farms can’t afford the added cost.

“You can put all the filters you want on the ventilation systems in your barns and be as biosecure of a facility as possible, but if rats can get in and out, they will find a way. They aren’t showering,” Formica says.

What Can You Do?

Every 15 years, pesticides are reviewed by EPA. This rodenticide review is part of a pilot project for EPA as they’re implementing their Endangered Species Act work plan. These mitigation measures seek to achieve compliance with their statutory directives at EPA, following recent court cases directing EPA.

“We will see this approach in reviewing other pesticides as well. Folks need to be prepared to provide input,” he says.

This is a proposed interim decision, Boatright explains. EPA will take comments through Feb. 13 and review them. They will then promulgate a final rule at some point in the future.

“Make your voice heard,” Liphatech’s Galloway says. “We’ve got to do everything we can. Submit comments to EPA.”

Both NPPC and AFBF are gathering feedback and information from its members and will be submitting comments to EPA by the Feb. 13 deadline.

“Weigh in and let elected officials know you value these products. The best thing you can do is call your member of Congress. We’re just coming out of three years of COVID, and there are tremendous human health issues of taking rodenticides off the market,” NPPC’s Formica says.

Read more about the rodent problem.

Cell-Cultured Chicken Gains Final USDA Approval

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:06:00 GMT

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has given final approval to three California-based cultivated meat companies. USDA announced Wednesday it issued grants of inspection to Upside Foods, Good Meat and Good Meat’s manufacturing partner, Joinn Biologics. The companies may begin producing and selling lab-grown chicken.

Earlier this month USDA approved Good Meat’s and Upside Foods’ labels to include the term “cell-cultivated chicken” for packaging. Last fall the Food and Drug Administration declared a meat product developed by Upside to be safe for human consumption, paving the way for products derived from real animal cells, but that don’t require an animal to be slaughtered, to be sold in grocery stores and restaurants.

An FSIS spokesperson told Alt-Meat, a Meatingplace publication, “FSIS thoroughly reviews every application for a grant of inspection. Applications are approved following a rigorous process, which includes assessing a firm’s food safety system. After an establishment receives a grant of inspection, FSIS conducts inspection activities at the facility at least once per shift to verify the production of safe and properly labeled product.”

Upside plans for its products to be first available at a restaurant: Bar Crenn in San Francisco. Good Meat will also debut in restaurants, with acclaimed chef José Andrés ready to serve it at one of his dining rooms in Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Post.

While the products may appear on restaurant menus, it may be years before these companies are ready to supply products to regional grocery store chains that can compete on price with traditional animal agriculture products.

USDA Awards $2.29 Million in Farm Bill Funding to Protect Animal Health

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:46:16 GMT

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding $2.29 million through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Farm Bill program to advance APHIS’ animal health preparedness. The 2018 Farm Bill provided funding for this program as part of an overall strategy to prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the United States and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions.

“NAHLN funding is vital to safeguarding the nation’s food supply against threats posed by animal diseases, especially ones of foreign origin. Pork producers are focused on the 2023 Farm Bill and urge continued funding for the critically important ‘three-legged stool’ of animal health, including NAHLN, the NAVVCB (‘vaccine bank’) and NADPRP. Continued funding for NAHLN is necessary to enhance animal health diagnostic testing for both endemic and high-consequence pathogens in the nation’s livestock and poultry. These laboratories are the first line of defense for detecting animal diseases and pathogens,” the National Pork Producers Council told Farm Journal’s PORK.

NAHLN, a network of federal, state and university-associated veterinary diagnostic laboratories that provide ongoing disease surveillance, responds quickly to disease events; communicates diagnostic outcomes to decision makers; and has the capability and capacity to meet diagnostic needs during animal disease outbreaks. Since it started, NAHLN has grown from 12 AAVLD laboratories to 60 AAVLD laboratories throughout the U.S. capable of testing large numbers of samples for specific disease agents.

“These Farm Bill funding awards will strengthen our ability to carry out our strategies for animal health emergency preparedness and better safeguard our agricultural industry,” Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary for USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in a release. “The more prepared we are to protect our agricultural commodities, the safer the food supply is for Americans and the rest of the world.”

NAHLN funding supports critically important projects focused on increasing capacity for disease testing through stockpiling efforts, enhancing data management through IT standardization, and increasing high-throughput testing with the addition of diagnostic testing instruments and technical expertise in laboratories, USDA notes.

“Should foreign animal disease strike, these laboratories are the first line of defense in swiftly diagnosing and detecting the extent of the outbreak to limit the impact on producers,” USDA says in the release.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

From ASF to COVID: How NAHLN Protects Animal Agriculture

Second Mistrial In Poultry Price-Fixing Case

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:37:42 GMT

The U.S. Justice Department has tried and failed twice in its efforts to prove price-fixing among chicken industry executives.

A federal judge in Denver has declared a second mistrial after a jury deadlocked over whether 10 chicken company executives had conspired to fix prices. The first trial ended in December 2021.

U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer ended the case on March 29 after jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict after four days of deliberations. The 10 executives had worked for Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Perdue Farms LLC, Claxton Poultry, Tyson Foods Inc., Koch Foods Inc., Case Farms and George’s Inc.

The DOJ alleged the executives engaged “…in a continuing combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids and fixing prices and other price-related terms for broiler chicken products sold in the United States.”

Should the government seek a third trial as they have indicated, Judge Brimmer is demanding an explanation from the head of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter.

“I am going to order that the head of the antitrust division come in here within the next week and look me in the eye and explain to me why the government is going to retry this case,” Brimmer said Tuesday according to a Bloomberg report.

“If the government thinks that the 10 defendants and their attorneys and my staff and another group of jurors should spend six weeks retrying this case after the government has failed in two attempts to convict even one defendant, then certainly Mr. Kanter has the time to come to Denver and explain to me why the Department of Justice thinks that that is an appropriate thing to do,” Brimmer said.

The DOJ had alleged an eight-year conspiracy to fix prices, but the two mistrials suggest the difficulty in government efforts to police competition in food markets. The men had faced up to 10 years in prison and $1 million fines if convicted.

Jurors in both trials heard from Robert Bryant, a longtime Pilgrim’s Pride employee who’s currently on leave. As the government’s star witness, Bryant testified an industry-wide agreement existed to share price and bid information to inflate profits or limit losses, depending on the market.

Undermining Bryant’s testimony was the fact he appeared under grant of immunity from prosecution as he admitted that he had lied to the FBI “multiple times” on matters unrelated to the price-fixing probe.

Another prosecution witness was Tyson sales manager Carl Pepper, who told jurors about coordinating prices among the competitors.

Lawyers for the defendants argued that both men had lied to avoid prison. The defense argued that it’s not illegal simply to share pricing information and that the government can’t prove that the defendants all agreed to participate in a single, overarching conspiracy.

Related stories:

Judge Declares Mistrial In Chicken Antitrust Case

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Reported in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:18:53 GMT

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has now been confirmed in Iowa, Kansas and Illinois. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of HPAI in a backyard mixed species poultry flock in Franklin County, Kan., a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Mclean County, Ill., and a commercial flock of layer chickens in Taylor County, Iowa.

“While this additional case of HPAI is not unexpected, we have prepared for this and are working closely with USDA and livestock producers to control and eradicate this disease from our state,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in a release. “This is a difficult time for poultry producers. We will continue to support them and emphasize the need for strict biosecurity on farms and around poultry to help prevent the spread of this disease.”

APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials on joint incident responses. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the properties will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flocks will not enter the food system.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S., USDA reports. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks. The U.S. has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

USDA encourages anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer to review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. APHIS has materials about biosecurity, including videos, checklists and a toolkit available here .

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state and federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through APHIS’ toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. APHIS urges producers to consider bringing birds indoors when possible to further prevent exposures. The Animal Health Protection Act authorizes APHIS to provide indemnity payments to producers for birds and eggs that must be depopulated during a disease response. APHIS also provides compensation for disposal activities and virus elimination activities. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov .

PETA Gets Blasted for Defaming "The Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:09:10 GMT

Animal rights activists group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has come under fire across the internet after bashing the late animal conservationist Steve Irwin.

During a reply on Twitter regarding a Google Doodle cartoon that was celebrating the life of “The Crocodile Hunter,” PETA decided to take the opportunity to rile up some controversy:

#SteveIrwin was killed while harassing a ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile & wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business. Today’s #GoogleDoodle sends a dangerous, fawning message. Wild animals are entitled to be left alone in their natural habitats. https://t.co/9JfJiBhGLw
— PETA (@peta) February 22, 2019

The animal rights group doubled down with some follow up tweets regarding Irwin, a famous TV personality from Australia who was tragically killed by a string ray while filming a documentary in 2006:

Steve Irwin’s actions were not on target with his supposed message of protecting wildlife. A real wildlife expert & someone who respects animals for the individuals they are leaves them to their own business in their natural homes.
— PETA (@peta) February 23, 2019

It is harassment to drag exotic animals, including babies taken from their mothers, around from TV talk shows to conferences & force them to perform as Steve Irwin did. Animals deserve to live as they want to, not as humans demand––the #GoogleDoodle should represent that.
— PETA (@peta) February 23, 2019

It wasn’t long before social media users came to the defense of Irwin, following what should have been a remembrance the conservationist on his birthday, and called out PETA’s hypocrisy. Many tweets pointed out how PETA doesn’t save many animals with the money it gets through donations:

remember when you guys killed over 70% of the animals you rescue when they show any violent tendencies yet steve irwin literally let animals bite him and forgave them for it. don’t ever disrespect steve he did more for animals than your entire organization did or will do ever
— jack (@fuckkjackk) February 24, 2019

That’s a nice glass house you’re throwing stones at a dead wildlife conservationist in pic.twitter.com/Lq6aswetcH
— Ghastly (@Ghastly) February 24, 2019

I'm an Australian wildlife rescue volunteer. #SteveIrwin and his family gave an awful lot of quiet, unpublicised support to organisations like mine. He was a serious conservationist & did the hard & unglamourous work required. PETA are attention-seeking posers by comparison
— Greg (@humbleminion) February 23, 2019

Others posts were funny in a MEME fashion:

pic.twitter.com/wpTET5B2Vi
— Rochelle Ragusi (@RagusiRochelle) February 25, 2019

pic.twitter.com/28guhTjGp4
— Chee walcott 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@cheewalcott) February 25, 2019

pic.twitter.com/7uhO3e7gvd
— Sketchykay🇵🇸 (@Glasses2themax) February 23, 2019

pic.twitter.com/M94N9QUKjk
— Spike007980 (parody) (@spike007980) February 24, 2019

Me getting ready to fight PETA after what they said about Steve Irwin pic.twitter.com/sLdeiMrubz
— The Strangle Squad (@_StrangleSquad) February 25, 2019

Actor Drake Bell even got in on the act of bashing PETA:

So your response here is this Human deserved what he got and is better off dead?! You are a disgusting organizationand and should be absolutely ashamed!! He was a FATHER and a HUSBAND and did WAY more for wild life conservation than the IDIOT INTERN hired to write this tweet!
— DrakeBell.ethᵍᵐ (@DrakeBell) February 24, 2019

Someone went onto Wikipedia and updated PETA’s page with some not so flattering information:

If you haven't yet heard...

PETA should not have messed with Steve Irwin. pic.twitter.com/RTvb3RFrwq
— Farm Babe (@thefarmbabe) February 24, 2019

The whole public relations debacle even pointed out that PETA uses an auto response message anytime someone uses the hashtag #donate during an interaction with the animal rights group:

If nothing else, the experience helped people better remember the work that Irwin did during his life to help animals: