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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 …

dairy

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 …

stamp out

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 …

usda

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 …

federal

New Federal Order Announced by USDA

Begins National Milk Testing Strategy to Address H5N1 in Dairy Herds New Federal Order Will Require National Milk Testing and Support State Officials and Dairy Regulators; Builds on Actions to Protect Farms, Farmworkers and Communities from H5N1 Avian Influenza (USDA-APHIS/WASHINGTON/Dec. 6, 2024) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the start of …

cdc

H5N1 Outbreak Continues to Trouble U.S. Dairy and Poultry Industries

Since 2022, the U.S. poultry industry has been battling a particularly persistent strain of H5N1, or avian influenza, and more than 100 million birds have been affected over the last two and a half years. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), says turkeys and egg layers have been hit the hardest.  “Broiler flocks tend to benefit from …

H5N1

More on H5N1 Found in Backyard Pig

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently confirmed the first-ever case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a backyard pig in Oregon. Rusty Halvorson has more details. The pig was part of a backyard farming operation with a mix of poultry and livestock. Click here to learn more about the Swine Health Information Center. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker …

h5n1

H5N1 Found in Oregon Backyard Hog Farm

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) confirms there are no food safety concerns about the nation’s pork supply after H5N1 was detected this week in an Oregon backyard farm. NPPC continues to work closely with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services and pork industry stakeholders on disease surveillance programs. Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had a quick update on …

Avian Influenza

Two Developments on the Avian Influenza Front

 Avian Influenza is in the news once again. Gary Crawford reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026

cdc

Dairy Farmers Remain Resilient in the Face of H5N1 Outbreaks

The chair of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) says dairy farmers are remaining “resilient” in the face of H5N1 outbreaks. Rusty Halvorson has the story. At the organization’s recent annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, Randy Mooney said dairy persists in its best practices in biosecurity and works with government officials, veterinarians and scientists to understand, contain and prevent highly pathogenic avian …