The co-chairs of the Congressional and Senate Chicken Caucuses wrote the USDA to seek assurances to protect America’s chicken exports should vaccination be contemplated as part of a strategy to combat HPAI. With the recent attention around increased egg prices due to HPAI, there have been renewed conversations about whether the U.S. should vaccinate commercial poultry flocks against the virus. …
Conditional License Issued for Avian Influenza Vaccine
Zoetis recently announced the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics issued the company a conditional license for its Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus. According to a story from Rusty Halvorson, the vaccine is labelled for use in chickens. A conditional license is used to meet an emergency condition, limited market, local situation or other special circumstance and is issued …
U.S. Bird Flu Response Hampered by Trump Administration
The U.S. response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak has faced significant disruption in the early weeks of the Trump administration, raising concerns among federal officials, state agencies, veterinarians, and public health experts. Since President Donald Trump assumed office on January 20, two key federal agencies responsible for monitoring and managing the outbreak have delayed critical communications, including bird flu …
Bird Flu Drives Egg Prices Up, No Relief in Sight
The cost of eggs in the United States has surged in recent months, largely due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of millions of chickens. Prices have more than doubled since the summer of 2023, and with the Easter season approaching, demand is expected to drive costs even higher. According to the U.S. Department …
Egg Prices are Soaring Due to Bird Flu
It’s been national news for quite some time now, but bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches. The average price per dozen …
Update on Milk Testing for H5N1 Virus
The second federal order involving milk testing for the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle is now one month old. Rusty Halvorson has an update. The second federal order involving milk testing for the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle is now one month old. Dr. Alex Turner of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says 28 states have enrolled since …
U.S. to Rebuild Bird Flu Vaccine Stockpile
The USDA will begin rebuilding its bird flu vaccine stockpile to make it match the current strain of the virus running through commercial flocks and wild birds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak started in 2022 and has killed over 130 million birds, affecting commercial, backyard, and wild birds in all 50 states. In a press …
Livestock Producers Reminded to Apply for Disaster Assistance
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024. ELAP provides emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish to assist …
Efforts Continue to Stamp Out H5N1
New funding is being made available to help in the efforts to stamp out H5N1. Rusty Halvorson has more details. The Biden administration recently announced it would award $306 million more to address avian influenza cases in humans, especially livestock workers. The New York Times noted the timing of the funding reflects concerns among senior health officials that the incoming Trump …
HPAI Confirmed in an Alabama Commercial Broiler Farm and a Backyard Flock
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/Dec. 16, 2024) — The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial broiler farm in Cullman County and in a backyard flock in Pickens County. Samples from the flocks were tested and confirmed positive at the Alabama …