HPAI Concerns: Why you should be cautious when hunting waterfowl; Sen. Grassley wants action taken

As the seasons change, fall rings in migratory bird hunting, and this year comes with a warning about High Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The North Dakota Extension is asking anyone who hunts waterfowl to be extra cautious this season. Wild birds are more likely to have increased exposure to the virus, which may increase the risk of infection. The Extension recommends that hunters dress game birds in the field when possible and practice good biosecurity to prevent any potential spread.

Those words of caution ring true for Senator Chuck Grassley as one egg producer in his home state of Iowa just lost more than a million birds to the virus. He says it is something producers and Congress need to take seriously.

“It’s a tremendous problem because there’s so much egg production in Iowa. In fact, we are number one. Avian Flu, I think that USDA and our Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Naig has good plans, but good plans still can work out to be catastrophic,” said Sen. Grassley.

Senator Grassley is among 10 lawmakers asking APHIS to spend more money getting HPAI under control and preventing more harm to producers’ bottom lines.

Related Stories
I Love Rural Health takes us to Gothenburg, Nebraska, to see how this small-town hospital harnesses the power of data informatics to transform patient care.
The Schurs are active in state YF&R events and county Farm Bureau activities, as well as their church, where Layton served as head elder and is now head trustee.
The Kienholz Family of Red Rock was recognized as Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s District 7 Farm and Ranch Family of the Year at the organization’s 83rd annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Oklahoma City.

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.