Bird flu, or H5N1, has disrupted the work of poultry farmers for years and began infecting dairy herds last year. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA)
Federal officials have announced $1 billion in funding to support farmers responding to avian flu. Ohio has led states this year in the number of birds affected according to USDA data. With nearly 14.5 million birds culled as of Feb. 27, Ohio has seen more than double the cases of the second ranked state.
Ohio farmers in five counties have reported flu cases in their flocks this year, but the vast majority of the virus’s impact has been felt in Darke and Mercer counties.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has now given the green light to a five-part approach to addressing avian influenza, including greater prevention efforts, regulatory changes and funding to help farmers purchase new birds to replenish flocks.
In a press release, though, Rollins put the emphasis on food prices.
“American farmers need relief, and American consumers need affordable food. To every family struggling to buy eggs: We hear you, we’re fighting for you, and help is on the way,” Rollins said.
The agency also signaled a willingness to consider vaccination for egg-laying flocks.
That move could pit egg producers against farmers raising poultry for meat. Broiler chicken producers export more than 7 billion pounds of meat each year — a market worth $5.53 billion. But many importers are reticent to accept meat from countries that vaccinate poultry because of fears that vaccinated birds could carry the virus into their country where it could begin to spread.
In a statement, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge expressed appreciation for the “communication and additional support.”
USDA rolls out $1 billion plan to combat bird flu after egg prices rise
“These additional tools and funding will offer additional assistance to our farmers and help Ohio recover from (avian influenza),” he continued. “ODA looks forward to participating in continued discussions with our federal partners as we learn more about this new plan.”
The Ohio Poultry Association praised Rollins’ support as well. Executive Vice President Jim Chackeres reiterated its support for the deployment of vaccines, and said they appreciate “USDA’s work to define a comprehensive vaccination protocol, which is a critical tool to slow the spread of this lethal virus.”
“The poultry farming community is fighting bird flu with all its resources, and we must use our collective knowledge to identify approaches to overcome this challenge. USDA’s plan represents forward progress to combat (avian influenza).”
USDA’s approach
Half of the program’s funding will go to bio-security efforts. The agency contends that 83% percent of avian influenza cases are transmitted by wild birds, and they’ve had success minimizing cases by keeping wild birds away from domesticated flocks. In a press gaggle following a Cabinet meeting last week, Rollins highlighted a pilot program securing 150 egg -laying facilities.
“Only one has got the avian flu since the USDA came in and helped lock those barns down,” she said.
The agency will also ramp up audits of farms where bird flu is detected and offer them to nearby non-affected farms as well. The audits themselves are free, but farms have to address shortcomings “to remain eligible for indemnification for future infections within this outbreak.”
The $500 million earmarked for biosecurity will cover up to 75% of costs for addressing the highest risk biosecurity concerns identified in audits.
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The next biggest tranche of funding is $400 million to indemnify farmers forced to cull their flocks. USDA noted it’s working on streamlining the approval process so farmers can repopulate their flocks more quickly.
As for reducing the price of eggs, the agency is aiming to increase supply through imports and lighter regulations.
Rollins added that “we’re talking to three or four countries right now about getting between 70 and 100 million eggs into the country in the next month or two. Which, of course, will help with supply and demand.”
The secretary declined to identify which countries she’s working with, but the country’s top egg import partners include Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China, and Turkey.
The USDA is also setting aside $100 million for “potential new generation vaccines, therapeutics, and other innovative solutions.” The agency granted the company Zoetis a conditional license for an avian influenza vaccine in January, but it remains unclear if federal officials will allow farmers to begin vaccinating their flocks. In 2016, for instance, USDA stockpiled bird flu vaccine doses and then never used them.
Rollins emphasized the department’s interest in treatments; “is there a way to address the avian flu with therapeutics, not just vaccines?” she asked rhetorically.
“Before we start sticking our chickens, we need to be sure — and putting that into the food supply — that we know exactly what we’re doing,” Rollins said.
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