Iowa Turkey Federation president Brad Moline says the variant of bird flu that’s circulating in the U-S appears tougher than the one that hit the poultry industry in 2015 — but he says stepped-up biosecurity at poultry operations is preventing the virus from spreading like it did six years ago…
The outbreak, though, has not impacted the supply of turkeys for this Thanksgiving. More turkeys were raised in the U-S this year than in 2021. The price of Thanksgiving turkey is down more than five-and-a-half percent from last year according to the Farm Bureau. If the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza continues, though, the price and availability of turkey may be impacted in the new year. There are at least 30 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 16 states right now…
Moline’s turkey operation is near Manson, on the border of Calhoun and Pocahontas Counties, and it had a bird flu outbreak in 2015. Moline says state and federal government officials have eliminated red tape and there’s a speedier process of euthanizing infected birds now.
There have been bird flu outbreaks this fall in counties including Buena Vista, Clay, and Pocahontas affecting turkeys and other flocks.
(credit to Radio Iowa)
