Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/20/15

U.S. turkey producers, particularly in the major producing state of Minnesota, have been in the news as the outbreaks of various strains of avian influenza continue to spread as migratory wild bird flocks travel the Mississippi flyway infecting commercial flocks.
Meatingplace asked National Turkey Federation Vice President for Communications and Marketing Keith Williams for some perspective on the true impact on the turkey industry to date.

Meatingplace: So far, what is the impact on the avian influenza outbreak on overall turkey supplies in the United States?
WILLIAMS: The annual production of more than 240 million turkeys occurs in more than 25 states across the country, and this ensures consumers will be able to find all of the turkey products they currently enjoy.  For context, the H5N2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has affected less than one percent of the turkey population.  For the individual producers and companies affected, this is extremely serious.  The impact on the consumer, however, should be minimal.

Meatingplace: About what percentage of U.S. - produced turkey meat is exported?
WILLIAMS: Turkey meat exports are about 12 percent of U.S. production.

Meatingplace: How have turkey exports been impacted?
WILLIAMS: There has been some disruption, but NTF and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) work closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to encourage all our trading partners to follow trade rules established by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  This generally limits restrictions to individual counties or states where AI is reported, and our efforts have been successful in many critical instances.  

Meatingplace: Other than biosecurity, are there any other measures, such as vaccines, that turkey growers can implement to protect their flocks?
WILLIAMS: It’s easy to lose sight of this during a situation like this, but biosecurity is working.  Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is in the migratory bird population and they are flying over major turkey producing areas, yet the vast majority of turkey flocks remain unaffected. Biosecurity is the most reliable measure for successfully protecting flocks and containing the virus where it has been limited to the poultry flock on that farm.  This biosecurity contains the virus and prevents it from spreading.

Meatingplace: What impact are you seeing the outbreak having on turkey prices — both live prices processors pay and retail prices consumers pay?
WILLIAMS: It’s still too early to determine the full impact. The individual financial impact on growers has been the most apparent and immediate.  Government indemnities cover a significant portion of the loss, and typically, processors also provide assistance to ensure the grower does not suffer a complete financial catastrophe when a flock is affected.  For processors, who in most cases own the turkeys throughout their life cycle, the impact has been felt in many ways, including disruption in production schedules and a variety of other costs associated with trying to contain this disease and dealing with the aftermath of the individual cases.  As noted, consumers to this point should not have any trouble finding the turkey products they always have enjoyed at a reasonable price.

Meatingplace: What else would you like our readers and consumers to understand about the AI outbreak?
WILLIAMS: According to the Centers for Disease Control, USDA, veterinary and medical experts, the strain of avian influenza found in these cases is not known to cause illnesses in people and does not pose health risks to the public or to poultry plant workers.  Poultry with H5N2 are prohibited from being processed or sold. Consumers can be confident in the safety of the turkey and other poultry products they consume.

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