Avian Influenza Detections Drop, But Fall Migration Looms
Over 175 million birds and 1,075 dairy herds have been affected by the current strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since it began in February 2022. Detections of HPAI in both poultry and dairy cattle have slowed over the summer months with zero detections in commercial poultry flocks and just one dairy herd detection in the last 30 days. This Market Intel provides an update on the status of HPAI and what to watch for as the fall migration season approaches. Migratory birds moving south along flyways are the most likely to spread HPAI, which survives better in cool conditions, making fall a likely time for HPAI flare-ups.
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Case Farms Acquires Foster Farms’ Louisiana Operations
Case Farms has completed the acquisition of Foster Farms’ Farmerville, Louisiana complex, marking a strategic expansion of its poultry operations.
The deal covers the Farmerville Fresh Chicken, Prepared Foods and Protein Conversion facilities, along with a feed mill in Arcadia and a hatchery in Athens, Louisiana. Both companies said they will work to ensure a smooth transition for employees, customers and suppliers.
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Foster Farms Sells Farmerville, Louisiana, Chicken Facilities to Case Farms
Case Farms has acquired the Farmerville, La., chicken complex from Foster Farms, including fresh chicken and prepared foods processing, protein conversion, a feed mill and hatchery, according to a joint release sent to Food Processing this weekend.
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Case Farms Acquires Foster Farms Complex in Louisiana
Foster Farms and Case Farms have finalized an agreement to transfer ownership of Foster Farms’ Farmerville, Louisiana, complex.
The transaction includes the Fresh Chicken, Prepared Foods and Protein Conversion facilities located in Farmerville, Louisiana, as well as the feed mill in Arcadia, Louisiana, and the hatchery in Athens, Louisiana.
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Experts Are Still Seriously Worried About Bird Flu — Here's What You Need to Know
In late 2024 and into early 2025, headlines were everywhere— discussing the potential dangers of H5N1, otherwise known as avian influenza, or more simply, the bird flu. Hundreds of millions of birds, including millions of egg-laying hens, needed to be culled, resulting in a massive egg shortage that caused the price of a dozen eggs to skyrocket. One variant was later found in dairy cows, leading the U.S. government to implement a national milk testing strategy. Several humans (mostly dairy or farm workers) were also infected, including a Louisiana farmer who died after contracting it from his backyard flock.
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Bird Flu Epidemic Requires Intervention
With avian flu wiping out chicken populations and driving up egg prices, people have been struggling for solutions. US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has suggested that instead of culling birds that are affected, farmers should consider letting the disease run through the flock to identify and preserve birds that are immune to it.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain emphasizes the terrible impact that would have on the industry thusly: “There might be two chickens left when it’s over.”
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Ag Commissioner Mike Strain Suggests Importing Eggs to Lower Prices
There isn't anybody who's been in the grocery store in the past few months that hasn't dealt with the exorbitant cost of eggs. Or maybe it's the 'eggsorbitant' cost of eggs. Sorry, trying to inject a little humor into a basically humorless situation.
But the crisis hasn't gone unnoticed by Louisiana state officials. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain recently met with Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, about how to get a handle on egg prices, and what to do about the effects of Bird Influenza.
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Louisiana Commercial Poultry Untouched by Bird Flu, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain Says
As the nation combats high egg prices due to viral chicken deaths, Louisiana officials say the state's poultry farmers remain unaffected. The virus is in the state, killing wild bird populations. The key, experts say, may be Louisiana cattle.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $1 billion in a five-pronged approach to combat this year's predicted 40% increase in egg prices.
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USDA Invests Up To $1 Billion to Combat Avian Flu and Reduce Egg Prices
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced a $1 billion-dollar comprehensive strategy to curb highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), protect the U.S. poultry industry, and lower egg prices. This is in addition to funding already being provided to indemnify growers for depopulated flocks.
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Poultry Researcher Brings Unique Perspective During Anxious Times
With H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, on the rise a recent LSU AgCenter hire is bringing a set of skills to his research seldom seen in the field of poultry science — a mechanical engineering degree.
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Company Says it Received Conditional Approval for Bird Flu Vaccine from US Department of Agriculture
The US Department of Agriculture last week issued a conditional license for an avian flu vaccine for use in chickens, amid an outbreak ravaging poultry flocks, contributing to the sky-high price of eggs.
Zoetis, the manufacturer behind the vaccine, announced the conditional approval Friday, saying in a news release its scientists had begun updating its existing avian flu vaccine in 2022.
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Louisiana Farmers Work To Fill Gap As Egg Prices Go Up Across The US
Across the nation, bird flu is destroying flocks and creating egg shortages. In Southeast Louisiana, farmers are filling that poultry gap.
Kickn' Chickn' Farm is a homestead in Zachary that sells eggs. Over the past three weeks, Owners Chris and Nicole Young said business has grown and now the farm has backorders for all the eggs demanded.
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Tournament Rule Provides More Transparency for America’s Farmers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the final USDA poultry tournament rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act.
“Farm Bureau appreciates USDA’s commitment to bringing greater fairness to farmers who raise poultry under the tournament system.”
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SWLA Resident with Nation’s First Severe Bird Flu Case Dies
The Southwest Louisiana resident who had the nation’s first severe case of bird flu has died, health officials announced Monday.
This is the first human death related to bird flu in the country.
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Avian Influenza Detected In Second Louisiana Backyard Flock
On December 13, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced the detection of the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana. Following a report of increased mortality in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) on the property in southwest Louisiana, testing by Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the flock.
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