Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 8/12/15


This spring’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact Midwest states in a variety of ways as fall – and a new outbreak threat – approaches.

The poultry industry in Minnesota is working to repopulate chicken and turkeys after more than 100 farms were hit this past spring. Nearly 40 of those affected farms have been repopulated with healthy birds and 37 more have achieved regulatory standards they need in order to follow suit, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. USDA estimates that Minnesota lost about 5 million turkeys and 4 million egg-laying hens and animal health experts believe HPAI may return as early as this fall as wild bird migrations resume.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Agriculture Dept. this week lifted the final six avian influenza quarantines, opening the door for those farms in Barron County and Jefferson County to begin restocking their flocks, the department announced. State officials plan to hold public meetings next month to help poultry producers prepare for possible HPAI outbreaks this fall with the winter migration.

Finally, the Iowa Poultry Association says poultry farmers are preparing for their recovery from HPAI, which affected 40 percent of egg-laying flocks and the deaths of more than 30-million hens and pullets. The agency also predicted that a full recovery in Iowa could take more than a year with egg supplies increasing gradually over the next 12 to 18 months.

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