CALHOUN COUNTY, Iowa (RFD-TV) — State agriculture officials confirm that about 42,000 turkeys have been culled after a new detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI, H5N1) in a commercial turkey flock in Calhoun County, Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says this marks the eighth HPAI detection in domestic birds in the state this year. The flock was depopulated to prevent further spread. Approximately 42,000 birds were affected in the outbreak, officials said.
Officials continue to urge poultry producers and backyard flock owners to strengthen biosecurity measures, such as limiting exposure to wild birds and closely monitoring for signs of illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that the threat to public health remains low, and poultry and eggs remain safe to eat when properly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
HPAI has had a significant impact on other states, such as South Dakota, this year, particularly within the turkey industry, which has seen a 3 percent decline in production.
Agriculture Freedom Zones reflect rising concern that data center growth must not strain rural grids or displace productive farmland.
February 28, 2026 05:00 PM
·
Record Choice grading levels are changing how beef quality premiums are valued.
February 28, 2026 03:30 PM
·
Colorado Congressman Jeff Hurd joins Champions of Rural America to share insights into the Western Caucus legislative priorities as they champion wildfire prevention and mitigation in the West.
February 27, 2026 02:35 PM
·
Britt Hilton with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined us to discuss current conditions, producer impacts, and the road to recovery following the Ranger Road Fire.
February 27, 2026 02:18 PM
·
The closure of Lubbock Feeders highlights mounting pressure on the U.S. cattle supply, according to the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, as border restrictions and costs strain feedyards.
February 27, 2026 11:59 AM
·
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart discussed the legal process behind delisting the prairie chicken, the challenges ranchers faced under the bird’s previous protections, and the benefits of cooperative habitat management for both livestock and wildlife.
February 27, 2026 10:55 AM
·
