[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Senate Agriculture Committee leaders asking USDA for more information regarding the department’s efforts to prepare for a possible return of bird flu[/title][fusion_text]Friday, September 18th, 2015
Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are asking USDA for more information regarding the department’s efforts to prepare for a possible return this fall of the bird flu outbreak that decimated Midwest chicken and turkey farms earlier this year. The lawmakers pointed out that the committee held a hearing in July on the impact of the outbreak, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 million birds, “significant U.S. taxpayer expense for indemnity and cleanup procedures” and “economic devastation on farms and in rural communities in more than a dozen states.” But they said questions remain regarding the potential threat of a recurrence of HPAI this fall and preparedness efforts under way, at both the state and federal level and on farms. The questions involved four main areas: disposal of dead birds, biosecurity efforts, indemnities and vaccinations. The lawmakers concluded by pledging to work with USDA to address future outbreaks of the disease.
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