More cases of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza are being reported across the U.S.
Nearly 300,000 birds were lost after an outbreak at a commercial turkey facility in Minnesota. Another 23,000 were killed when the virus hit a commercial turkey farm in South Dakota. So far this year, nearly 54 million birds have been lost due to HPAI, affecting nearly 400 flocks nationwide.
Despite being in the midst of the worst HPAI outbreak America has seen, U.S. poultry exports for this year and next are set to rise.
According to the Economic Research Service, broiler exports are expected to increase by 2.2 percent, which is about 158 million pounds. September production of broilers was up 2 percent over last year landing at 4 billion pounds, mainly due to heavier slaughter rates. Wholesale bird prices averaged $1.22 per pound which is down nearly $0.50 from their peak price in May.
Next year, broiler production is forecast to reach 46.8 billion pounds.
