Episode description
Avian Flu has been impacting Pennsylvania’s farms for nearly two years now. The virus has had a major impact on poultry farmers across the state. According to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, it is very devastating to farmers after their farm has been hit by the virus.
“Nobody wants to do what these farms are required to do. You have to put flocks down. But you have to contain and suppress the virus as quickly as you can. It's the first principle of eliminating this virus, is to contain and suppress it, “said Redding.
For poultry farmers, this is their livelihood. They wake up every single day to tend to the flocks, and it’s financially and emotionally challenging while dealing with avian flu. "These farms are now without a paycheck. It's difficult for them to go for some time. That's part of the challenge when you quarantine and restrict and then have to test. It could be two months; it could be three months without a paycheck. And the state stepped in, and I'll talk about that. And then of course, just sort of the social and emotional impacts of what these farmers are doing in the families, “said Redding.
Over the last few years, there’s been 35 confirmed cases of bird flu in the state. The Department of Agriculture has been working to protect farmers during this challenging time.
“We've done a lot of testing. So, we're working our way through it, but it's a long process, as you can appreciate. Once you have a positive and you go through the prescribed actions, we have to take on farms and for that farm to get back in business. And of course, our consumers are seeing the impacts of that in the marketplace with the price of eggs is one example, “said Redding.
As of now, the 2025-26 Legislative Budget Hearings have been taking place. Secretary Redding shared if there were any updates on budgeting for the surveillance.
“So, the legislature and the governor established a recovery fund that we've been able to sort of put aside some dollars and that has $61 .5 million in it. And that is to cover testing and recovery. So that testing recovery I think is what you call surveillance. So, we're doing that testing all the time. A lot of questions this year from the legislature because we did something really important and that was, we reallocated some money that had been for high path avid influenza to our food nutrition programs, knowing what we're seeing in the demand at the food banks as an example, and helping out with some innovation. So, all the money stayed within agriculture, but we did that knowing. that we had a recovery fund that had a significant and healthy cash balance. And that's credit to the governor and really the judicious use of those monies to help our producers, “said Redding.
Grant Guilbon, Regulator Affairs Specialist for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau also was a part of the conversation. Listen to hear more of the podcast.
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