More than a billion dollars will be spent in the coming months on the fight against High-Path Avian Flu, and part of that plan includes biosecurity assessments.
“And really developing a customized strategy to try and target and address the issues associated with the specific wildlife environment of the farm. Contrast that with a more general bucket of assessments through called biosecurity incentive-focused assessments, which really focus on the producers’ biosecurity plan that they’ve already got in place and evaluating how well they apply that plan to the farm,” said Lisa Rochett with USDA’s APHIS.
As part of the plan, the USDA will share up to three-quarters of the cost to fix the riskiest biosecurity concerns on operations. Farmers must also pass an audit prior to restocking to qualify for indemnity payments.
Federal aid helps, but producers will bear most of the losses. Balance sheets may look stable, but margins remain fragile without policy support.
February 18, 2026 01:49 PM
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Bayer’s Monsanto announces $7.25B class settlement for Roundup™ lawsuits alleging Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), covering claims over 21 years.
February 17, 2026 04:14 PM
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Investigations are now ongoing following a massive explosion and fire at the Koch Foods poultry plant in Fairfield, Ohio, which claimed one life and injured at least three other workers at the plant.
February 17, 2026 03:52 PM
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Farmer Ed Bell shares how AGRAbility helped him return to his family’s strawberry farm and inspire resilience, legacy, and hope in rural life.
February 17, 2026 03:12 PM
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The Action Aims to Lower Food Costs for Consumers and Strengthen the Supply Chain
February 17, 2026 11:09 AM
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued final Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments totaling more than $1.89 billion.
February 16, 2026 10:55 AM