Bird flu costs pile up as bird flu outbreak enters second year
The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government about $661 million and killed consumers in grocery stores after more than 58 million birds were slaughtered to curb the spread of the virus. became even more painful. For eggs, chickens and turkeys, the farmer who raises these animals is easily losing more than $1 billion to him, agricultural economists say, but no one has yet calculated the total cost of the industry. not. And the spring migration season is approaching, and there is no end in sight. And there is little more that farmers can do to keep the virus at bay.Unlike years past, the virus that causes highly pathogenic bird flu survived last summer’s heat. This epidemic is already more widespread than the last major avian flu epidemic in 2015, but the lessons governments and industry learned eight years ago are showing signs of success. Having applied it, it has not yet proven to be less expensive. The worst in the history of Turkish industry, he has clearly experienced an outbreak of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), which has been devastating for Turkish industry’ 300 commercial farms in 47 provinces. That’s because every time a virus is detected, the entire farm herd (which can reach millions) must be killed to limit the spread of the disease. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have yet to report a case of bird flu. Iowa, the nation’s largest egg producer, leads the nation with nearly 16 million slaughtered birds. In 2015, nearly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered on more than 200 farms in 15 states. history. The federal government has spent nearly $1 billion of her on dealing with infected birds, cleaning barns and compensating farmers. It cost the industry about $3 billion as farmers incurred additional costs and lost money for not having birds on their farms. It jumped from $1.93 per dozen the previous month to $4.82 in January. The surge has prompted a price gouging investigation, but the industry blames bird flu and massive increases in feed, fuel and labor costs for the price hikes. That’s down slightly from last fall, when prices peaked at $4.75, but up significantly from last year, when chicken breasts sold for $3.73 a pound. But wholesale turkey prices rose to $1.72 a pound last month, up from $1.29 a pound last January, just before the bird flu epidemic began, according to the USDA. Farmers are worried about what they will have to face in the coming months. David Starknecht, a virus researcher at the University of Georgia, said there is hope that this spring may not be so bad, as turkeys and chickens may have developed immunity to the virus. The main problem is that the highly contagious virus is difficult to keep out of wild bird droppings and nasal secretions despite the best efforts of farmers. Farmers have gone to great lengths to require workers to shower and change before entering barns, sanitize trucks entering their farms, and invest in individual tool sets for each barn. Some farms have improved barn ventilation and installed laser systems to deter wild birds from gathering. Services leading the government response.Farmers began following these procedures after the 2015 outbreak.This outbreak only reinforces the need to increase biosecurity. We are grateful that there has been little to no transmission from farm to farm,” said Oscar Garrison, senior vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs at United Egg Producers Trade Group. We are partnering with governments to analyze this epidemic to gain new lessons in keeping birds healthy.”That’s really the key – early detection ion. This is like a wildfire, The earlier we detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate,” said Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council. It is extremely rare, and infected birds are not allowed into the national food supply. Proper cooking of poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit can kill the virus. He recovered from his illness a few days later.
The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government about $661 million and over 58 million birds have been slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus before being consumed in grocery stores. further increased their suffering.
On top of the government response and the cost of rising prices for eggs, chicken and turkey, farmers who raise these animals have easily lost more than $1 billion, said one agricultural economist.
The bad news is that with the outbreak entering its second year and the spring migration season looming, there is no end in sight. And there is little that farmers can do beyond the steps they have already taken to keep the virus at bay.
Unlike last year, the virus that causes highly pathogenic bird flu found a way to weather last summer’s heat, leading to an increase in reported cases in the fall.
The outbreak is already more widespread than the last major avian flu outbreak in 2015, but it’s not as costly as governments and industry have applied lessons learned eight years ago. that has not yet been proven.
Turkish Federation spokeswoman Shelby Newman said: “The past year has been devastating for the turkey industry, clearly experiencing the worst outbreak of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) in industry history. .
The current outbreak is slaughtering 58.4 million birds on more than 300 commercial farms in 47 states. That’s because every time a virus is detected, the entire farm herd (which can reach millions) must be killed to limit the spread of the disease. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have yet to report a case of bird flu. Iowa, the nation’s largest egg producer, leads the nation with nearly 16 million birds slaughtered.
In 2015, nearly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered on more than 200 farms in 15 states.
The previous outbreak remains the most expensive animal health disaster in US history. The federal government has spent nearly $1 billion of her on dealing with infected birds, cleaning barns and compensating farmers. Farmers incur additional costs and losses incurred when there are no birds on the farm, costing the industry about $3 billion.
The bills continue to pile up this year as cases spread, and this includes costs to consumers.
Egg prices jumped to $4.82 in January from $1.93 per dozen a year ago, according to the latest government figures. The surge has sparked calls for an investigation into the high prices, although the industry claims that a combination of bird flu and significantly higher feed, fuel and labor costs are responsible for the extremely high prices.
The price for a pound of chicken breast in January was $4.32. That’s down slightly from last fall, when prices he peaked at $4.75, but up significantly from the previous year, when chicken breasts sold for him $3.73 a pound. I’m here.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track retail turkey prices as part of its inflation data, but wholesale turkey prices hit $1.29 a pound last January, just before the bird flu epidemic began, according to the USDA. to $1.72 per pound. last month.
The number of slaughtered birds peaked at about 21 million last spring in March, and farmers are worried about what they will have to face in the coming months. David Stallknecht, a virus researcher at the University of Georgia, said there’s hope this spring might not be so bad, as turkeys and chickens may have developed immunity to the virus.
The main problem with bird flu is that the highly contagious virus is easily spread through wild bird droppings and nasal secretions. Despite the best efforts of farmers, it is difficult to keep the virus out.
Farmers have gone to great lengths to require workers to shower and change before entering barns, sanitize trucks entering their farms, and invest in separate tool kits for each barn. Some farms have improved barn ventilation and installed laser systems to deter wild birds from gathering.
Lindsey Cole, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is leading the government’s response, said, “All growers are encouraged to redouble their efforts to protect birds through good biosecurity practices. Recommended.
Farmers began implementing these steps after the 2015 outbreak, but the outbreak only reinforced the need to strengthen biosecurity.
“American egg farmers continue to double down on biosecurity protocols to protect their flocks and maintain a steady supply of eggs. There is little to no farm-to-farm spread in this current outbreak. I appreciate that,” said Oscar Garrison, Sr. Vice President of Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs for the United Egg Producers trade association.
Poultry and egg producers are working with governments to analyze the outbreak for new lessons in keeping birds healthy.
“That’s what’s really important. Early detection. This is like a wildfire. The earlier you detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate.”
Officials say bird flu poses no significant threat to human health. Human cases are extremely rare, and infected birds are not allowed into the nation’s food supply.
Only one human case of avian influenza has been confirmed during this outbreak, and it was a man who helped slaughter and remove infected birds from a farm in Colorado. He recovered from his illness a few days later.
https://www.wgal.com/article/bird-flu-costs-pile-up-outbreak-enters-second-year/42965970 Bird flu costs pile up as bird flu outbreak enters second year
